Top U.S. stock indexes were set to rise Wednesday after a volatile few days marked by continued worries about the Federal Reserve’s upcoming actions and global trade tensions.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was poised to open as much as 200 points higher after it fell more than 500 points on Monday. The blue-chip Nasdaq and the broader S&P were also signaling increases for the day.
The U.S. markets are off to their worst start for December in decades. The Dow is down over 2,100 points since the start of the month, while the S&P is down nearly 250 points.
Investors are hoping the central bank will hold off on raising interest rates again this year after its final policy meeting on Wednesday, an outcome experts say is possible given the recent turmoil in the markets. But most expect the Fed to boost interest rates by a quarter of a point.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also signaled more trade discussions between the U.S. and China in January, a welcome sign for investors who are quick to react to any indicators of where negotiations stand between the two countries.
