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Wall Street Pauses at Record Highs as Fed Rate Cut Looms
U.S. stock futures were little changed Friday morning as investors caught their breath after a week of record-breaking gains, with the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision now seen as a near certainty.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.2%, S&P 500 futures edged down 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 contracts hovered just above flat. The muted moves follow Thursday’s rally, which saw the Dow close above 46,000 for the first time and all three major indexes notch fresh records.
Recent economic data has painted a mixed picture: job growth slowed sharply last month, with just over 20,000 positions added, while weekly jobless claims surged to a near four-year high. Inflation remains stubborn, partly fueled by tariff-related price pressures, but traders believe it’s subdued enough for the Fed to act.
Markets are pricing in a more than 90% chance of a quarter-point cut at next week’s meeting, with many expecting multiple reductions before year-end. Still, the central bank faces a delicate balancing act — cutting too aggressively risks stoking inflation, while moving too slowly could deepen cracks in the labor market.
For now, Wall Street’s rally has left the major indexes on track for weekly gains of around 1.6%, even as Main Street sentiment grows more cautious.
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