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US Equity Futures Largely Flat as Traders Await Tech Earnings, Fed Rate Decision

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US equity futures were largely flat pre-bell Wednesday as traders looked forward to the financial results from four of the "Magnificent Seven" and the Federal Reserve's latest policy announcement, in what could be Jerome Powell's final policy meeting as chair.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures and S&P 500 futures were flat, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% higher.

Slated to report quarterly earnings after-market today are Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta Platforms (META), among others.

The Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to maintain the target range for its federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% at its meeting today. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is due to leave his post before the next committee meeting in June but has said he will remain until his named replacement, Kevin Warsh, is confirmed.

The committee's statement following the meeting is due for release at 2 pm ET, with Fed Chair Powell's press conference scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm ET.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 3% at $107.54 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 3.3% higher at $103.26 per barrel.

The March durable goods orders report, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show a 0.5% gain after a decline of 1.3% in the prior month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Housing starts for March are expected to come in at 1.38 million, and the advance international trade in goods deficit is seen widening to $88 billion from $83.50 billion in the prior month. Both reports are also due 8:30 am ET.

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