US equity futures point to a firmer open, with Asian markets ended mixed and European equities trading solidly firmer. Markets remained in wait-and-see mode following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep policy rates unchanged, with two dovish dissents but Chair Powell signaling the Fed is likely to stay on hold for an extended period as inflation remains elevated and labor market conditions show signs of stabilization. Attention is shifting to upcoming Big Tech earnings, with a particular focus on cloud growth and capital expenditure guidance, after recent AI-related optimism lifted semiconductor stocks but failed to generate sustained broader market upside. The US dollar drew renewed scrutiny after Treasury Secretary Bessent reiterated support for a strong dollar policy, partially reversing the previous session’s sharp decline, while escalating tensions with Iran continued to underpin strength in energy and precious metals markets.

Companies Mentioned: NVIDIA, OpenAI, Robinhood Markets