Markets Bake in Fed Rate Cut as Futures Fall. Why Powell's Comments Will Be Crucial.

Core Viewpoint - U.S. stock futures are experiencing fluctuations as investors anticipate a widely expected interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance - Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average are largely flat after the index dropped by 279 points on Tuesday, closing at 47,560 [2]. - S&P 500 futures increased by less than 0.1%, while contracts for the tech-heavy Nasdaq also rose by less than 0.1% [2]. - The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note is currently at 4.18% [2].