08:16 AM EST, 02/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed pre-bell Wednesday ahead of the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy-setting meeting.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.2%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures flatlined.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.7% at $76.39 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 0.8% at $72.43 per barrel.

US housing starts, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, are expected to drop to a 1.39 million annual rate in January from 1.499 million in the preceding month, while permits are seen falling to 1.46 million from 1.482 million previously, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to release the minutes from its January meeting at 2 pm ET.