Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, supported by gains in metal prices, while investors digested earnings from some of the big tech megacaps on Wall Street.

The US Federal Reserve has a dual mandate to act independently and keep inflation and employment in check, primarily by raising and lowering short-term interest rates.

On a weekly basis, Wall Street’s main indexes are set for their second straight week of advances, with the blue-chip Dow on track for its biggest weekly jump since October 2022.

With healthy hiring and some progress on inflation, Fed official have said that the pace of rate cuts will slow this year.

U.S. stocks were traded mixed on Wednesday morning with markets in a wait-and-see mode ahead of the first Federal Reserve interest-rate decision of 2025. Investors also were getting ready for quarterly earnings from some of the Big Tech companies,

Most U.S. stocks are ticking higher following a rush of profit reports from some of the country’s most influential companies.

US GDP grew by 2.3% on an annualised basis in the final quarter, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This was slower than the 2.6% annualised growth expected by economists polled by Reuters. It was also slower than the previous quarter, when growth was 3.1% annualised.

Billionaire investor says US stocks are in ‘very similar’ position as lead-up to internet bust at turn of millennium

U.S. stock indexes are drifting on Wednesday, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates and after two days of disruption driven by doubts about the artificial-intelligence boom.

Donald Trump is expected to elevate Michelle Bowman, a fifth-generation community banker and current Fed governor, as the government’s most influential banking regulator.

Jerome Powell-led FOMC maintained the policy rate steady at 4.25-4.50 per cent in the first decision of Trump's presidency after reducing the rates for three straight meetings in 2024.