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Wall Street Futures Climb on Fed Cut Hopes as Bitcoin Extends Steep Decline

US markets staged a rebound Friday morning, with futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all moving higher after a turbulent week. The rally was fueled by growing bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates at its upcoming December meeting, following dovish comments from New York Fed President John Williams. His remarks shifted sentiment sharply, with nearly 70% of traders now expecting a rate cut. Dow futures gained 0.7% , leading the advance. S&P 500 futures rose 0.5% , while Nasdaq futures added 0.4% . The optimism comes after Thursday’s sharp sell-off, underscoring the volatility gripping markets as investors weigh AI-driven risks and Fed policy divisions. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies continued to struggle. Bitcoin plunged to around $82,000 , marking its worst month since the 2022 crypto collapse. The decline reflects heavy institutional outflows, miner sell-offs, and broader risk-off sentiment across digital assets.

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US Futures Tread Water After S&P 500’s Record Close

                                        

US stock futures held steady on Wednesday following a record close for the S&P 500. Investors are closely watching fresh economic data and Federal Reserve minutes for hints on potential rate cuts in this holiday-shortened session.

  • S&P 500 Futures (ES=F) traded flat after the benchmark index ended Tuesday above 5,500 for the first time.
  • Nasdaq 100 Futures (NQ=F) remained little changed.
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures (YM=F) edged up 0.1%.

The stock market is preparing for an early close (1 p.m. ET) on Wednesday ahead of the Independence Day holiday. Jerome Powell’s remarks on cooling inflation have fueled hopes for an interest-rate cut, even as he signaled no immediate urgency to act. Traders are currently pricing in 65% odds of a rate decrease in September, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.

Eyes are now on updates regarding private payrolls and jobless claims, providing insight into the labor market before the key June jobs report release on Friday. Additionally, data on services activity and factory orders will be closely watched for signs of further economic slowing that could prompt policy adjustments.

In corporate news:

  • Paramount Global (PARA) shares climbed over 12% due to reports that Skydance Media has acquired a controlling stake in the entertainment giant.
  • Tesla (TSLA) shares rose almost 3% in pre-market trading following a 10% surge on Tuesday after the EV maker exceeded Wall Street delivery estimates.

Investors are bracing for the July 4th closure, keeping a keen eye on economic data as they assess the path forward. 


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