09:01 AM EDT, 03/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were little changed ahead of Wednesday's opening bell as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were flat, S&P 500 futures increased 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.2% higher.

Oil prices were little changed, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude hovering at about $70.58 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude flat at around $66.74 per barrel.

The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to release a policy statement at 2 pm ET, followed by a press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell at 2:30 pm ET. Analysts are expecting the central bank's policy rate to remain unchanged in the 4.25%-to-4.50% range.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.3% lower, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.1% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.1% lower. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.2% and Germany's DAX index was 0.7% lower in Europe's early afternoon session.

In equities, shares of Autodesk ( ADSK ) were 2.3% higher pre-bell after activist investor Starboard Value said it plans to nominate director candidates for election at the upcoming annual meeting. MediWound ( MDWD ) stock was up 4% after the company reported higher Q4 revenue.

On the losing side, HealthEquity ( HQY ) stock was 14% lower after the company posted late Tuesday fiscal Q4 non-GAAP earnings that trailed analysts' estimates.