12:37 PM EDT, 06/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with index/price moves and political/macroeconomic news from the first paragraph.)

US equity indexes were moderately higher ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement under newly minted Kevin Warsh, while Iran warned against Israel's continuing attacks on Lebanon.

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 rose 0.1% to 26,416.4 and 7,520.2, respectively, in Wednesday's midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.4% to 52,211.5.

The Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to maintain the range for its federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% for the fourth straight meeting, implying the focus will be on the updated Summary of Economic Projections and Kevin Warsh's first press conference as Fed chair on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, on the geopolitical front, Iran has accused Israel of violating the truce in Lebanon 84 times since it reached the interim agreement with the US and warns of a "harsh response" if attacks continue, Al Jazeera reported.

Israel carried out a series of strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun saying that he was in favor of a ceasefire and welcomed "any state" to help in the effort toward a truce, CNN reported. The draft text of the US-Iran framework agreement, a copy of which CNN said it has seen, ends the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

In his closing remarks at the G7 summit in France, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it is vital that Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel do not resume fighting, while noting that Paris supports a preliminary US-Iran deal to end the war, according to CNN.

Front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent rose 0.9% to $79.66 per barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate climbed 1% to $76.81 per barrel after midday.