5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on Wednesday

5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens on Wednesday News of the day for Sept. 16, 2026

Wed, September 16, 2026 at 3:05 PM GMT+3 4 min read

Stock futures are higher after two days of losses for major indexes as traders await the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates; the Fed is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three years to tame inflation; the European Union could add Canada as an "associate member" amid the country's growing trade war with the Trump administration; shares of SK Hynix and Intel are climbing following a report that the companies could partner to build chips in the U.S.; and retail sales data is due this morning. Here's what you need to know today.

Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Fed Rate Decision

Stock futures are rising this morning ahead of the highly anticipated Federal Reserve decision on interest rates. Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures were each up 0.3% in recent trading while futures tracking the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.6%. The major indexes fell Tuesday for the second straight session as oil prices and government bond yields rose. WTI crude oil futures were recently down more more than 2% at $103.50 per barrel after hitting a fresh four-month high yesterday. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was at 4.97%, after jumping as high as 5.04% in yesterday's session, the highest point since the financial crisis of 2007. Bitcoin was holding steady at $76,100, after the cryptocurrency slumped yesterday as the Clarity Act failed to pass through a cloture vote in the Senate. Gold futures were up 1% to $4,390 an ounce.

Fed Is Expected to Raise Key Interest Rate

The Federal Reserve's policy committee will wrap up its two-day meeting this afternoon amid expectations that the central bank will hike its benchmark rate for the first time in three years to address mounting inflationary pressure. The Federal Open Market Committee's decision is scheduled to be released at 2:00 p.m. ET, along with quarterly economic projections from FOMC members. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who took over the top position in May, has said repeatedly the Fed is squarely focussed on bringing inflation down to the Fed's target. Recent inflation data has confirmed that price pressures persist as oil prices rise owing to the Iran war. Investors will be looking for additional insights from Warsh, who is scheduled to speak at a press conference half an hour after the decision is announced. A rate hike is meant to raise borrowing costs, slowing economic activity such that inflation moderates. The challenge the Fed faces is that it can't address the underlying causes of the inflation, including the Iran war, tariffs and rampant corporate spending on AI.

EU Says Canada Could Become 'Associate Member'

Canada could soon become the first "associate member" of the European Union amid its growing trade war with the Trump administration. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a Wednesday speech that the bloc wants to work with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney on "opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU." Carney has spoken with a number of European leaders in recent weeks, looking to solidify Canada's relationship with the E.U. amid the trade conflict with the U.S., per a Wall Street Journal report from over the weekend. Von der Leyen said in her speech that Europe must "urgently reimagine" its partnerships as Trump has looked to distance the U.S. from many of its allies.

SK Hynix, Intel Shares Jump on Report of Potential US Chipmaking Deal

Shares of Intel (INTC) and SK Hynix (SKHY) are each climbing this morning, following a report that SK Hynix is considering a deal with Intel to make its memory chips in the U.S. for the first time. Reuters reported that several people familiar with the talks said SK Hynix has discussed leasing some of the manufacturing space at a massive facility Intel is building in Ohio. Another form of the deal could see SK Hynix form a joint venture with Intel and some of its cloud customers that are buying up its memory chips as fast as they can be made, the report said. Shares of SK Hynix and Intel were each up roughly 3% ahead of the opening bell.

Retail Sales Data Due This Morning

Investors will get one last piece of data ahead of today's interest rate decision that could provide insights into the health of the American consumer. The Census Bureau is set to release August retail sales data at 8:30 a.m. ET, as consumer spending has become a key focus amid rising inflation. Economists estimate that retail spending grew by 0.8% in August, recovering from a 0.6% drop in July. Stores may have gotten a seasonal boost from back-to-school shopping last month, while retailers have cautioned that consumers have become increasingly selective with their budgets in recent months.

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