Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange on June 17, 2025.
NYSE
U.S. stock futures were relatively unchanged Wednesday as traders monitor the latest developments in the Middle East and brace for the Federal Reserve’s latest rate policy decision.
S&P 500 futures hovered around the flatline, along with Nasdaq 100 futures. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were also flat.
Stocks are coming off a downbeat session Tuesday as the Israel-Iran conflict mounted.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to threaten Iran’s leader, saying that “our patience is wearing thin” and calling for “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Current and former administration officials also told NBC News that Trump is weighing options on Iran, including whether to launch a military strike.
Adam Crisafulli, founder of Vital Knowledge, said that equity markets are looking especially vulnerable these days.
“Even before the events in the Middle East, there was just so much risk on the horizon, and we have valuations that are very elevated so you don’t have a lot of flexibility,” he said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” noting that tariffs, fiscal uncertainty and the debt ceiling are among the factors that are up in the air. “There’s not a lot of capacity priced in to absorb all this uncertainty.”
Fed decision ahead
The Federal Reserve’s rate decision is due at 2 p.m. ET. The U.S. central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady, but investors will be keeping a close eye on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting comments.
Traders are also watching for policymakers’ forecast on rate policy, as the Federal Open Market Committee will be sharing members’ “dot plot” of rate expectations.
