Finally, it's Federal Reserve rate-cut day, with investors eagerly on watch for the size of the U.S.'s first cut in four years; a top 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:European Union (EU) court scrapped a $1.7 billion fine imposed on Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google; the United Auto Workers (UAW) union plans to hold a strike-authorizing vote against Chrysler and Jeep parent Stellantis (STLA); Microsoft (MSFT) is planning to launch a $30 billion 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure fund to build data centers with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackRock; and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has cleared Alaska Air Group's (ALK) $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings (HA)—with conditions. U.S. stock futures are edging higher ahead of the Fed decision after stocks 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:closed mixed on Tuesday. Here's what investors need to know t𝓀oday.

1. Fed Set to Finally Cut Rates

The Federal Reserve concludes its two-day meeting today, with the central bank widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time in four years as inflation cools toward its 2% annual rate goal. Market participants 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:remain divided on the size of the cut, with some expecting the traditional quarter-point easing and others a reduction of 50 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:basis points. Fed Chair Jerome Powell's 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:press conference on the trajectory and rationale behind futur♍e cuts also will be closely mon♊itored.

2. EU Court Overturns $1.7B Google Fine

Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google scored a legal victory after the EU's General Court overturned a fine of almost 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) imposed in 2019 that alleged the search giant abused its dominant position and restricted rivals’ advertising. The ruling that that the European Commission had "committed errors in its assessment" around the duration of Google's advertising contracts with publishers comes days after the tech firm lost an appeal of a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:$2.7 billion antitrust fine for favoring ✅its own shopping services. Alphabet shares are up nearly 1% in premarket trading.

3. UAW Plans Stri🔯ke-Authorizing Vote at Stellꦡantis

Chrysler and Jeep parent Stellantis (STLA) is facing fresh strikes after United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain said the union plans to hold a vote authorizing a walkout after the automaker allegedly abandoned contract commitments it made during a labor deal 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:struck last year. The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Big Three automaker wa💟s hit by a wave of strikes last year before reaching deals with the UAW. 💞Stellantis shares are up less than 1% in premarket trading.

4. Microsoft in Fo❀cus After Launching AI Infrastructure Fund With BlackRock

Microsoft (MSFT) shares are in focus after the tech giant and the world's largest asset manager, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:BlackRock, announced plans to launch a $30 billion 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure fund to build data centers and energy projects. Microsoft stock closed higher for its seventh consecutive session on Tuesday, with the latest gains coming after the company 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:hiked its quarterly dividend by 10% and approved a $60 billion 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:stock buyback. Microsoft shares are edging higher in pr💛emar🔴ket trading.

5. DOT Clears Alaska Air-Ha🌳waiian Holdings Merger With Conditions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) cleared Alaska Air Group's (ALK) $1.9 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings (HA), but with conditions attached aimed at protecting customers. Among those conditions: the two carriers have to maintain several key routes and keep the value of their rewards programs. Shares of both airlines are little changed in premarket trading.