U.S. stock futures posted modest gains on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest policy decision and a wave of earnings reports from major tech firms.
As of 6:00 a.m. ET, Dow Jones futures were up 35 points (+0.1%), S&P 500 futures gained 10 points (+0.2%), and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced by 50 points (+0.2%).
On Tuesday, Wall Street pulled back slightly, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq retreating from record highs. While U.S.-China trade talks held in Sweden were described as “constructive,” no major breakthrough was achieved, leaving markets cautious. The looming August 1 tariff deadline set by President Trump continues to weigh on sentiment.
Earnings season remains in full swing, with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) scheduled to report later this week. So far, 82% of S&P 500 companies that have reported have beaten estimates, helping to underpin investor confidence.
The Federal Reserve is set to announce its July policy decision later today, with analysts widely expecting rates to remain unchanged at 4.25% to 4.5%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has emphasized patience as officials assess the potential economic impact of new tariff measures. Attention will also turn to upcoming U.S. GDP and labor market reports for additional economic signals.
In commodities, oil prices eased slightly after Tuesday’s gains driven by optimism over trade deals. Brent crude slipped 0.6% to $71.20 per barrel, while WTI crude fell 0.7% to $68.76.