Stocks Rise as Investors Await Fed's Move

Stocks worldwide are on the rise as traders keep an eye on the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision. Before markets opened, the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq were all up, following record highs the day before. This surge comes as investors hope for a rate cut due to a slowing job market. In Asia, markets closed higher, partly thanks to positive remarks from U. S. President Donald Trump about relations with China and Japan. Nvidia's stock continued to climb, reaching a market value of over $5 trillion. This growth is driven by high demand for its chips, especially after the CEO announced $500 billion in chip orders. Caterpillar's shares also jumped after the company reported better-than-expected earnings. Meanwhile, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Starbucks are set to release their earnings later in the day. The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, but with limited recent data due to the government shutdown, the decision might be cautious. In Europe, markets saw mixed results, with Germany's DAX slightly down and Britain's FTSE 100 up. Trump's visit to Asia has led to significant investment commitments, but a trade deal with South Korea remains uncertain. Despite this, South Korea's market rose, as did markets in China, Taiwan, and India. Australia's market fell after higher-than-expected inflation data. Oil prices also saw a slight increase. While there's hope for progress in U. S. -China trade tensions, the situation remains complex.