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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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Ukraine and Russia Conduct Major Exchange of Wounded POWs Amid Ongoing Conflict


In a significant humanitarian effort, Ukraine and Russia have exchanged another group of severely wounded and ill prisoners of war. The exchange, which took place on June 12, follows agreements made during recent peace talks in Istanbul.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that all returning Ukrainian servicemen require medical treatment and will receive the necessary care. The swap included personnel from multiple branches of Ukraine’s military, including the Armed Forces, National Guard, and Border Guard Service. Some of the freed soldiers had been held in Russian captivity for over three years.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its returning troops had crossed into Belarus and were receiving psychological and medical assistance. The exchange is part of a broader agreement that also includes the repatriation of fallen soldiers. On June 11, Ukraine recovered the bodies of 1,212 fallen defenders, while Russia received the remains of 27 soldiers.

This latest exchange marks the second phase of a larger prisoner swap initiative, with both sides continuing negotiations for future releases. While no political breakthrough has been achieved, the ongoing exchanges signal a potential path toward further humanitarian agreements between the two nations.

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