Stock futures mainly remained unchanged this morning as investors waited for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Many people expect the central bank to lower its benchmark rate, and they are eager to hear policymakers’ forecasts for the economy and monetary policy. In the midst of ongoing speculation about an artificial intelligence bubble, tech behemoth Oracle is set to announce quarterly results after the market closes; following a disappointing sales report and a bleak outlook, restaurant chain Cracker Barrel saw its stock fall; and following a financial update from power generation company GE Vernova, which increased its dividend and stock buyback plans, GE Vernova’s stock rose. Today, you must have this information.
Pre-Fed Interest Rate Decision Stock futures drop.
Stock futures are flat this morning ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement later today. Nasdaq futures declined 0.1% during the most recent trading session, while those tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the benchmark S&P 500 were nearly flat. Yesterday, the major indices had mixed returns. The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.1%, while the Dow and S&P 500 lost 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively. This morning, the 10-year Treasury note yield hit a three-month high of 4.20%, raising the cost of borrowing for all sorts of loans. Bitcoin has only rebounded from a high of more than $94,500 yesterday and a low of less than $88,000 over the weekend, trading just around $92,000. At $4,225 per ounce, gold lost 0.3%.
The Fed’s key rate cut was highly anticipated; attention turned to the dot plot and Powell’s remarks.
Following a two-day policy committee meeting, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce a lower benchmark interest rate.
The committee is slated to reveal its conclusion and a description of its economic predictions at two p.m. ET, including the much-anticipated “dot plot” depicting interest rate expectations. After the rate decision is announced, markets will await Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference. They are hoping to get some signals regarding the course of monetary policy in the coming months. While a rate cut would benefit the labor market, the Fed is attempting to strike a balance between this and its other key goal of limiting inflation. When Powell’s term ends in May, President Trump will choose his own nominee to the job of Federal Reserve Chair to succeed him.
Oracle’s earnings are expected to rise due to questions about the AI bubble.
After today’s market close, Oracle (ORCL) is expected to release its most recent earnings report. The cloud computing juggernaut is expected to report yet another significant increase in sales, fueled by demand from artificial intelligence (AI) enterprises. Oracle shares jumped to a record high when the company released its fiscal first quarter earnings last quarter. However, in the months after, the stock has recouped its gains on concerns about a potential artificial intelligence bubble boosting prices. Analysts and investors have expressed concerns about Oracle’s potential over-reliance on a small number of large customers, such as OpenAI, as well as the risk to the company’s financial viability as it incurs more debt to pay the infrastructure growth required to meet demand. Investors want to know how Oracle plans to address debt concerns. Oracle shares rose 0.5% in premarket trading. While the stock has increased by 33% since the start of 2025, it has fallen by 36% from its all-time high in September.
Sales & Outlook Put Cracker Barrel in red
Cracker Barrel’s quarterly profits and expectations disappointed investors, causing the stock to fall. Revenue of $797.2 million fell short of Visible Alpha’s analyst estimates, although the business posted a slightly better adjusted $0.74 per share loss in its fiscal first quarter after the bell on Tuesday. Cracker Barrel’s restaurants and retail divisions had a greater decline in comparable store sales than analysts projected. In addition to decreasing its fiscal 2026 revenue and profitability expectations, Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino outlined a series of cost-cutting efforts aimed at improving the company’s financial position. In premarket trading, shares fell by more than 4%. The stock is trading at its lowest level since 2009, having lost more than 50% of its value since the start of the year.
Getty Images Increase in Dividend and Positive Outlook Drives Up Price.
GE Vernova (GEV) shares are rising after the former General Electric company revealed significant modifications to its financial outlook during its annual investor day. In addition to raising its free cash flow predictions for this year, the energy equipment manufacturer announced its revenue, free cash flow, and profit margin targets for 2028, stating that sales in 2025 will be in the top end of its $36 billion to $37 billion forecast. The board of directors of GE Vernova has also authorized an increase in the stock repurchase program from $6 billion to $10 billion, as well as a dividend increase to $0.50 per share, all of which are fully guaranteed by the firm. Before the market opened, two GE Vernova shares had risen more than 10%.
Make mobile trades. Anytime, anywhere
One of the world’s most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges is available to you. Take advantage of minimal commissions and excellent customer service while trading safely. You’ll also have access to Binance’s features, which make it easier to monitor your transaction history, manage auto-investments, examine price charts, and make fee-free conversions. Create a free account and participate in the global cryptocurrency market alongside millions of other traders and investors.
