US stocks trod water before the bell on Wednesday as investors waited for the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, seeking insights into the economy in the face of tariff risks.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average () and the S&P 500 () hovered near the flat line. Nasdaq 100 futures () were also little changed, after the major gauges failed to muster a comeback on Tuesday with tech leading the way down.
Investors are looking to the Fed to provide a catalyst that could make or break stocks’ attempt to recover from their recent sharp sell-off.
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The central bank is overwhelmingly expected to hold interest rates steady in its policy decision on Wednesday afternoon.
With rate cuts seen as off the table for March, the focus is on Fed officials’ “dot plot” — where they think rates will move next — and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference to set expectations on future easing.
“Powell post-FOMC will have to reassure markets growth remains healthy and inflation’s trajectory still points to 2% as confidence is wavering amid stagflation worries, or outright recession fears,” Evercore ISI’s Julian Emanuel said in a note to clients.
Turning up the focus on the Fed are rising concerns about US economic growth and inflation amid President Trump’s escalating trade war.
Read more: The latest on Trump’s tariffs
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