09:10 AM EDT, 09/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were flat ahead of Tuesday's opening bell as traders awaited a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% higher, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures were both flat.

The Fed on Sept. 17 lowered its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4% to 4.25%.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 1% at $67.25 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 1.3% higher at $63.05 per barrel.

The Composite Purchasing Managers' Index is scheduled for release at 9:45 am ET.

Powell is scheduled to speak at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2025 Economic Outlook Luncheon at 12:35 pm ET.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 1% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.7% lower, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.2% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.5% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Sempra ( SRE ) were 3.6% higher pre-bell after the company said it has agreed to sell a 45% equity interest in its infrastructure unit to affiliates of KKR (KKR) for $10 billion in cash. Super League Enterprise ( SLE ) stock was up 160% after the company said late Monday it expects to raise up to $20 million in gross proceeds from a private placement of shares and warrants.

On the losing side, Firefly Aerospace ( FLY ) shares were 11% lower after the company reported late Monday a wider Q2 loss amid lower revenue.