U.S. Stock Futures Hold Steady as Investors Await Fed Decision, Earnings Results

U.S. stock futures were flat Tuesday evening after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended their winning streak, with investors cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision and a flood of corporate earnings.

As of 20:10 ET (00:10 GMT), S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% to 6,410.0, Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.1% to 23,479.25, while Dow Jones futures traded near 44,824.0, little changed.

During regular trading, the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% after touching a record high, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.5%. Market sentiment cooled as the Fed’s two-day meeting began, with rates expected to remain at 4.25%–4.5%. Investors are closely watching for hints of potential cuts later this year amid concerns about tariffs introduced by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has urged the Fed to lower rates to boost the economy.

Economic data also weighed on sentiment. U.S. consumer confidence rose less than expected in July, while June’s JOLTS report signaled further weakness in the labor market. Investors now await the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE price index, along with key employment data including ADP payrolls, weekly jobless claims, and Friday’s July jobs report.

Earnings season remains in focus with over 150 S&P 500 companies reporting this week. The “Magnificent Seven” tech giants — Meta and Microsoft report Wednesday, followed by Apple and Amazon Thursday. Elsewhere, Novo Nordisk shares fell after lowering its profit outlook, PayPal dropped on a weak forecast, UPS plunged over 10% on disappointing results, and UnitedHealth slipped after reinstating but lowering guidance.

Markets remain volatile as investors balance earnings surprises, economic data, and Fed policy signals.