07:56 AM EDT, 06/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were slightly higher pre-bell Wednesday as traders await the Federal Reserve's rate decision, the first under new chairman Kevin Warsh.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were steady, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.4% higher.

The Fed will deliver its latest policy decision at 2 p.m., and Warsh will hold his first press conference at 2:30 p.m. Markets expect the central bank to keep interest rates unchanged at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%.

Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies ( SPCX ) , known as SpaceX, continued its post-IPO rally for the third straight day after its record-setting initial public offering on Friday, gaining 1.4% in pre-market activity.

President Donald Trump said at the G7 conference that the proposed US-Iran memorandum of understanding, set to be formalized in Geneva on Friday, is "not final" and warned that the US will "go right back to dropping bombs" if he doesn't like the deal.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 0.7% at $79.52 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.9% higher at $76.74 per barrel.

The May retail sales report, slated for 8:30 am ET, is forecast to show a 0.6% increase following a 0.5% gain in the previous month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Pending home sales for May, scheduled for release at 10 am ET, are expected to be up 0.9% after a gain of 1.4% in the prior month. The Atlanta Fed Business Inflation Expectations survey for June is also expected at 10 am ET.