Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq eye fresh records as earnings roll in, Trump seals trade deals

Market Overview - US stock futures are showing positive movement, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures up 0.3% and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1%, as investors anticipate record highs and a potential interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve [1][2] - The S&P 500 index closed above 6,800 for the first time, reflecting rising optimism regarding a US-China trade deal [2] Federal Reserve Meeting - Markets are preparing for the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, with expectations for a second consecutive interest-rate cut to be announced [3] - Investors are particularly focused on comments from Chair Jerome Powell regarding the likelihood of another rate cut in December amid a data blackout due to the US government shutdown [3] Earnings Reports - The earnings season is in full swing, with notable reports from companies such as Visa, UnitedHealth, UPS, and PayPal expected [4] - Upcoming earnings from major tech companies, including Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, are highly anticipated, especially Amazon's report following its announcement of cutting 14,000 jobs to reduce costs [4][12] Company Performance - UnitedHealth raised its annual profit forecast after exceeding earnings expectations, resulting in a 4% increase in its stock price during premarket trading [9] - UPS shares surged 14% in premarket trading after the company forecasted fourth-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates [10] - Qorvo's stock rose 10% following reports of acquisition talks with Apple supplier Skyworks, while Confluent's stock increased by 11% after beating third-quarter earnings expectations [11] Job Cuts and Cost Management - Amazon announced plans to cut approximately 14,000 corporate jobs as part of its strategy to manage costs amid significant investments in AI [12]