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Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.

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Wall Street Nervous Ahead of US Inflation Report

 

Shares in Asian markets dipped today as investors anxiously await a crucial U.S. inflation report due on Friday. The report’s findings could significantly impact interest rates and global markets.

Key Points:

  • Focus on Inflation: The U.S. Federal Reserve closely monitors the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, a key measure of inflation. Recent mixed data has left investors in a wait-and-see mode, wondering when the central bank might adjust interest rates.

  • Chinese Property Market: Efforts to revive China’s property sector have fallen short. Despite Beijing’s measures to cut down-payment ratios and mortgage interest rates, the market remains sluggish. Dozens of property developers defaulted on debts, affecting the entire Chinese economy.

  • Wall Street’s Reaction: Wall Street is cautious, with the Hang Seng down 2% and the Shanghai composite index slipping 0.6%. Investors worldwide are closely monitoring the inflation report’s impact.



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