U.S. stock index futures held steady on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.
As of 05:45 ET (09:45 GMT), Dow Jones Futures rose 19 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 Futures traded flat. Nasdaq 100 Futures dipped 25 points, or 0.1%.
Wall Street extended its rebound into a second session on Monday following last week’s selloff. The S&P 500 gained 0.6%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.9%.
Federal Reserve Decision in Focus
Markets are treading cautiously as the Federal Reserve begins its two-day policy meeting, with investors looking for signals on the strength of the economy and the future path of interest rates.
The central bank is expected to hold rates steady and maintain a cautious stance amid persistent inflation and economic uncertainty linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies. Market participants will closely analyze the Fed’s updated economic projections, which could offer insights into how policymakers view the impact of Trump’s policies on growth.
A slowdown in the labor market and increasing concerns over a potential U.S. recession could influence the Fed’s stance, potentially softening its hawkish outlook.
Trump-Putin Phone Call on Ukraine Conflict
Investors are also monitoring developments from a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
Ahead of the discussion, Trump stated that many elements of a peace agreement were in place but acknowledged that key issues remained unresolved. A potential deal—and the lifting of longstanding sanctions on Russian energy—could impact global markets.
Nvidia Developer Conference in Focus
In the corporate sector, Nvidia (NVDA) is set to take center stage as CEO Jensen Huang delivers the keynote address at the company’s GTC conference in California.
Huang is expected to provide insights into the ongoing AI boom, which has played a major role in Nvidia’s rise as one of the world’s most valuable companies. However, Nvidia shares have faced sharp declines over the past month, falling around 20% from their January highs as investors reassess the sustainability of the AI-driven rally.
Additionally, Adobe Systems (ADBE) executives will discuss the company’s AI strategy during a meeting at its digital experience conference. Adobe shares fell last week after the company issued a subdued earnings outlook.
Oil Prices Climb After Gaza Airstrikes
Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, building on the previous session’s gains after Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza following stalled hostage negotiations.
As of 05:45 ET, Brent crude futures rose 1.3% to $71.97 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased 1.3% to $68.27 per barrel.
Both benchmarks gained nearly 1% on Monday, supported by rising geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea and optimism surrounding China’s economic stimulus measures.
The Israeli airstrikes marked the most significant escalation since the January ceasefire, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorizing the strikes after negotiations to extend the truce failed.
