Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures hold near record highs with Powell on deck

Market Overview - US stock futures remained steady following a record-setting day, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.2% and S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hovering near flat [1] - Stocks experienced a significant jump, marking a third consecutive day of record-high closes, driven by optimism surrounding AI trade and anticipated Fed policy easing [2] Federal Reserve Insights - Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech on monetary policy is highly anticipated, especially after the Fed's first rate cut in 2025 [2] - Powell's comments will precede the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which is the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, with Wall Street looking for signs of stable inflation [3] Sector Highlights - Gold prices reached a new record high amid growing optimism for further Fed rate cuts [4] - Micron Technology's quarterly earnings report is expected to provide insights into AI-driven demand, with analysts predicting nearly a 40% increase in sales [4] - Nvidia's stock surged due to a significant $100 billion deal with OpenAI, contributing to the Nasdaq's gains [4]