A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., Sept. 17, 2025.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
Stock futures rose slightly on Wednesday as investors continued to digest the latest rate cut decision from the Federal Reserve.
S&P 500 futures traded up 0.2%, as did Nasdaq 100 futures. Additionally, futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 50 points, or 0.1%.
In extended trading, shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store plummeted after its fourth-quarter earnings missed Wall Street’s expectations. The restaurant chain said that it’s focusing on enhancing the “guest experience” in the wake of its rebrand controversy.
The moves follow a volatile day of trading Wednesday after the Fed, as anticipated, slashed its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the lone gainer, rising 260.42 points, or 0.57%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% and 0.33%, respectively.
During a press conference following the decision, Fed Chair Jerome Powell put a damper on investor hopes that the central bank would be on a lengthy rate-cutting path this year, as he called the latest cut “risk management.” In fact, policymakers are predicting two more reductions this year, but just one in 2026, while traders had priced in two to three more cuts next year.
“The Fed’s 25 basis point cut is a clear signal: the softening labor market and stubborn inflation have pushed policymakers to act — but gradually. This isn’t a pivot, it’s a measured step,” Gina Bolvin, president at Bolvin Wealth Management Group, said in a statement.
“For investors, this means modest rate relief, not fireworks,” she added. “The Fed is walking a fine line, and upcoming inflation and jobs data will determine what comes next.”
Despite Wednesday’s losses, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are still headed for weekly gains, being up 0.2% and 0.5% in the period, respectively. That puts the broad market index on pace for its sixth positive week in seven and the tech-heavy Nasdaq on track for its third positive week in a row.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s move higher for the 30-stock Dow puts its week-to-date advance at 0.4%, a move that would signify its second consecutive week of gains, if it holds.
