US stock futures today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq climb ahead of pivotal Fed meeting — with a rate cut on the line; silver breaking records above $61

Market Overview - US stock futures showed slight gains ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision, with Dow futures hovering around 47,635, S&P 500 futures at 6,856, and Nasdaq 100 futures at 25,724.25 [1][2] - The market is pricing in a 90% probability of a quarter-point rate cut by the Fed, indicating strong expectations for monetary easing [1][2] Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is experiencing internal divisions, with some officials advocating for easier policy to support a cooling labor market, while others caution that further cuts could risk inflation as price pressures stabilize [2][5] - The cautious tone in equities reflects traders' reluctance to take large positions until the Fed provides clarity on its 2026 policy path [5][6] Stock Market Movements - Tuesday's trading session lacked clear direction, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining due to weakness in JPMorgan, while the Nasdaq Composite saw slight gains driven by Tesla and Alphabet [6] - Upcoming earnings reports from Oracle, Broadcom, Costco, and Lululemon are anticipated as key indicators for market performance, particularly in AI-driven cloud spending [6] Silver Market Dynamics - Silver prices reached a historic high of $61.47 per ounce, reflecting a significant rally driven by severe supply tightness, elevated borrowing rates, and speculative bets on a Fed rate cut [10][11] - Silver has more than doubled in 2025, outperforming gold's 60% increase, with a major supply crunch in October contributing to the price surge [12] - Despite some inventory returning to London vaults, high borrowing costs indicate ongoing supply tightness, compounded by decade-low Chinese inventories affecting global supply chains [12]