Update (Sep 17): The Federal Reserve raised its target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a 3.75%–4.00% range at the Sept. 16 meeting.
Stock market futures in the U.S. climbed on Sept. 16 as investors sipped gains and awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy decision later that day, with S&P 500 futures showing modest upside ahead of the announcement.
U.S. stock futures were higher on Wednesday, with S&P 500 futures up and Nasdaq-100 futures posting larger gains, evidence that the broader stock market was trading cautiously higher ahead of the Fed meeting, according to a Yahoo Finance market roundup of premarket action.
Traders were watching pricing in interest-rate markets: the CME Group’s FedWatch tool showed markets putting roughly a high-90s percentage probability on a 25-basis-point move, a signal investors have used to set expectations for the FOMC announcement and post‑decision guidance.
Analysts and market commentary note that the pricing for a quarter-point increase has helped lift risk assets into the session as investors weigh the Fed’s statement and the central bank’s outlook for its policy path.
How the stock market reacts will depend on the Fed’s wording about future hikes and economic risks, a dynamic investors have followed all week. Coverage ahead of the meeting flagged that markets had already moved on data and Fed commentary, leaving traders focused on the September statement and the press conference.
The S&P 500’s premarket gains came after several sessions of choppy trading as investors parsed economic data and betting probabilities; coverage of the day emphasized that bond yields and mortgage-cost signals were part of what investors were watching into the Fed decision.
This article links readers to related coverage on what markets are watching and the Fed meeting context, including a pre-meeting market brief and the official FOMC focus so readers can follow developments when the Fed releases its decision.
Internal coverage: see S&P 500 rises ahead of today’s Fed decision and Fed rates decision in focus as FOMC meets in Washington for more on market positioning and the Fed’s agenda.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance — reported that S&P 500 futures gained and Nasdaq-100 futures climbed in premarket trading on Sept. 16.
- CME Group — FedWatch tool data showing market-implied probability for a 25-basis-point move ahead of the Sept. 16 FOMC decision.
