Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is expected to open strongly on September 18, 2025, following the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut of the year and projections for further easing [1][4] - Major U.S. stock index futures are showing substantial gains, with Dow Jones futures up approximately 0.69%, S&P 500 futures up around 0.86%, and Nasdaq 100 futures leading with a gain of about 1.05% [2] Current Index Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.57% in the previous session, achieving a new all-time high on an intraday basis, while the S&P 500 edged down 0.1% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.33% [3] - The S&P 500 has already risen to 6658 points, gaining 0.87% from the previous session and reaching an all-time high [3] Economic Data and Fed Actions - The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 4.00% to 4.25%, with projections indicating the possibility of two additional quarter-point rate reductions before the end of 2025 [4][5] - Initial jobless claims dropped more than expected, and the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index jumped in September, surpassing consensus forecasts [6] Corporate Developments - Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in Intel to co-develop PC and data center chips, resulting in a 30% surge in Intel shares during premarket trading [7] - Major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, lowered their prime lending rates from 7.50% to 7.25% following the Fed's rate cut, which is expected to stimulate borrowing [8] Upcoming Earnings and Corporate News - Darden Restaurants and FactSet Research Systems reported quarterly earnings, with Darden missing estimates and FactSet beating revenue expectations [12] - Other notable corporate announcements include Huawei's unveiling of advanced AI infrastructure, Hyundai's 2030 vision for electrified vehicles, and Mars's €1 billion investment in EU operations [12]