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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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Russian Missile and Drone Attack Strikes Multiple Targets in Ukraine, Including Kyiv


In the early hours of Tuesday, Russia launched a significant aerial attack on Ukraine, targeting the capital city of Kyiv and several other regions with a barrage of missiles and drones. The Ukrainian air force reported a ballistic missile threat at 3:00 a.m., followed by at least two explosions in Kyiv minutes later. Another missile alert was issued at 8:00 a.m., with at least one explosion reported in the city.

Missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. In the northeastern Sumy region, authorities reported strikes near the city of Shostka, where 12 residential buildings and two educational facilities were damaged. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces successfully struck a Ukrainian air base and a gunpowder factory.

The nearly three-year conflict has seen significant destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leading to widespread rolling electricity blackouts. Despite the provision of air defense systems by Kyiv's Western allies, Russia has continued to overwhelm Ukraine's defenses with combined strikes involving large numbers of missiles and drones.

As the conflict continues, uncertainty looms over its future course, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next month. President Joe Biden recently announced an additional $2.5 billion in weapons aid to Ukraine, aiming to bolster Kyiv's defenses before the transition of power.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in aerial and ground attacks, with no clear resolution in sight.

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