08:07 AM EDT, 04/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed in Wednesday's premarket activity as traders awaited comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for fresh cues on monetary policy.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 0.03%, S&P 500 futures declined 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were down 0.2%.

Oil prices were higher, with both the front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate crude up 1%, amid heightened geopolitical risks in the oil-rich Middle East following reports that Iran plans to retaliate against Israel for the latter's airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

Private payrolls growth based on ADP Institute's employment report, scheduled for release at 8:15 am ET, is expected to come in at 148,000 for March versus 140,000 in the February report.

The Institute for Supply Management's services index, due at 10 am ET, is seen edging higher to 52.8 in March from 52.6 in February.

Powell is scheduled to speak on the economic outlook before the Stanford Business, Government and Society Forum at 12:10 pm ET.