LIVE BLOG29 Jul 2026 | 06:24:22 PM ISTSynopsisFed Meeting Today Live Updates | US Stock Market Live: Tech concerns have pushed the Nasdaq to a three-month low, prompting investors to focus on other areas of the market such as consumer staples and healthcare. The blue-chip Dow is also at a two-week high.Fed Meeting Today Live Updates | US Stock Market Live: S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures inched higher on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy verdict against a backdrop of simmering Middle East tensions, while chip stocks struggled ahead of Big Tech earnings later this week.Fed in FocusThe Fed will announce its monetary policy verdict at 2:00 p.m. ET against the backdrop of crude prices soaring by 4.4% to $87.75 a barrel, as tensions in the Middle East flared up. Show more Show less1 New UpdateFED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: Copper slips ahead of Fed rate decision, aluminium rises on Gulf fightingCopper fell on Wednesday ​in cautious trade ahead of a ​Federal Reserve interest rate decision later in the day and ​signs of easing supply tightness in the world's biggest consumer China, while aluminium rose in response to renewed fighting in the Middle East.Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange ‌was down 0.6% ⁠at $13,607 ⁠a metric ton in official open-outcry trading, but held above the 50-day moving average, providing support ​at $13,576.FED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: Nasdaq hits three-month low as investors shift focus to defensive stocksTech concerns have pushed the Nasdaq to a three-month low, prompting investors to focus on other areas of the market such as consumer staples and healthcare . The blue-chip Dow is also at a two-week high.Results from Microsoft, Meta, Amazon.com and Apple later this week will be closely watched for ⁠signs that their billion-dollar AI investments were boosting earnings. Shares of the companies were ​marginally higher.FED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: Global chip rout deepens as AI spending and China competition fuel concernsGlobal markets have been volatile this month as investors questioned the sustainability of the ‌AI spending boom ⁠after signs that ⁠major U.S. companies were deepening a web of AI-linked investments and continuing to funnel billions into the technology at the expense of free cash flow.The scrutiny comes ​as competition from China heats up, both in the race to develop advanced chips and as Chinese firms roll out cheaper AI models. On ​Wednesday, the rout extended from Asia through Europe after South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix's bumper quarterly results fell short of lofty investor expectations.FED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: S&P 500 Q2 earnings beat rate outpaces historic normThe second-quarter earnings season has reflected healthy corporate performance, with 85.2% of the 169 S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings having surpassed expectations, LSEG-compiled data showed. Historically, 68% of companies have achieved that feat.FED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: S&P 500, Nasdaq futures edge higher ahead of Fed decisionUS stock futures were mixed Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy decision amid persistent Middle East tensions and weakness in chip stocks. At 7:09 a.m. ET, Dow futures fell 146 points, or 0.28%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.23% and 0.24%, respectively.FED Meeting Live | Dow Jones | US Stock Market Live: Fed decision in focusThe Federal Reserve will announce its policy decision at 2 p.m. ET as escalating Middle East tensions push crude oil up 4.4% to $87.75 a barrel.Traders see a 38% chance of an immediate rate hike, according to LSEG data, despite signs that price pressures eased last month.Markets expect interest rates to rise by at least 25 basis points by year-end as tariffs and higher energy costs fuel inflation.Investors will closely watch Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s remarks for policy signals, though he has said the central bank will avoid giving interest-rate guidance.