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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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Russia Resumes Strikes on Ukraine as Easter Ceasefire Ends

 

Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine early Monday, just hours after the expiration of a 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin. The strikes targeted multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy, prompting air raid alerts across half of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 96 drones and three missiles were fired overnight, with air defense units intercepting 42 drones and redirecting 47 others. Officials in Mykolaiv confirmed missile strikes but did not report immediate casualties or major damage.

The ceasefire, which began on Saturday evening, was dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a mere political maneuver. He had called for an extended 30-day truce, arguing that a longer pause could foster genuine peace efforts. However, the Kremlin refused to prolong the ceasefire, leading to an immediate resumption of hostilities.

Both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of violating the truce. Ukraine reported nearly 3,000 breaches, with Pokrovsk experiencing the most intense shelling. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed Ukrainian forces fired on Russian positions 444 times and launched over 900 drone attacks, resulting in civilian casualties.

The renewed violence casts doubt on diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for peace negotiations, expressed optimism that a deal could be reached “this week”. However, with both sides escalating attacks, the prospect of a long-term resolution remains uncertain.


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