New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- U.S. stocks traded flat ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy announcement scheduled later tonight, September 17, with the market widely expecting the first rate cut of 2025, as policymakers are believed to prioritize addressing labor market weaknesses over the firm inflation print.

The S&P 500 traded 0.05% higher at 6,610, while Nasdaq-100 futures remained flat at 22,337. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 123.39 points, or 0.27%, to 45,881.29.

The market has already priced in a 25-basis-point cut from the Fed, with speculation also suggesting that it may announce a larger 50-basis-point cut amid the deterioration in the labour market.

Traders have priced in a 96% chance that the Fed will cut rates by 25 ...