Updated Jun 18, 2026 – 4.03am, first published at 3.43amGo to latestPinned post – 3.43AMBefore the Bell: ASX to liftNatasha RudraAustralian shares are set to open higher as Donald Trump’s new Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh hands down his first rates decision. ASX futures were up 11 points or 0.1% to 8964Economists expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged in the 3.50 per cent to 3.75 per cent range for the fourth straight meeting in a row.Money markets have eased their most intense expectations for interest-rate increases, but they still have priced in a full quarter-point boost by the end of the first quarter of 2027.Investors will keep a close eye on how strongly Warsh expresses support for the central bank’s commitment to returning inflation to its goal. Reporters will also likely press him on how news of an interim peace deal between the US and Iran affects his views.Euro zone government bond prices rose for a fifth day on Wednesday in their longest rally since February,Market highlightsASX 200 futures are up 11 points or 0.1% to 8964AUD +0.1% to 70.73US¢Bitcoin +0.2% to $US65,888.84On Wall St: Dow +0.3% S&P flat Nasdaq -0.1%VIX up 0.5 points to 16.91Gold +0.6% to $US4358.58 an ounceBrent oil +0.6% to $US79.46 a barrelIron ore -1.9% to $US99.30 a tonne10-year yield: US +4.43% Australia +4.76%Today’s agendaNew Zealand GDP figures; Bank of England rates decisionTop storiesNegative gearing soars as interest rates rise | New data shows more than half of the nation’s 2.3 million investment properties are running at a cash-flow loss, emboldening Labor’s move to curtail negative gearing.