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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 Ends a Volatile Week Almost Where It Started

 

After a tumultuous week that saw sharp swings and market uncertainty, Wall Street managed to claw back some losses and finish almost where it began. Here are the key takeaways:

  1. Steady Recovery: The S&P 500 index showed resilience, gaining 0.3% on Friday. This followed its best day since 2022, and it’s now close to erasing the brutal losses suffered earlier in the week.

  2. Mixed Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average also edged up by 25 points (0.1%), while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Both indexes are still on track for slight weekly losses.

  3. Market Factors: The Japanese yen’s sudden strengthening caused turbulence as traders scrambled out of a popular trade. Additionally, concerns about a slowing U.S. economy weighed on investor sentiment.

  4. Upcoming Reports: Next week, investors will closely watch updates on consumer spending at U.S. retailers. These reports could drive further market swings.

In summary, Wall Street weathered a stormy week, and while uncertainties remain, it’s poised for stability as we head into the next trading days. 


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