09:18 AM EDT, 03/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US stocks look set to open lower in Friday's trading session ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, which begins later in the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were off 0.1%, S&P 500 futures were down 0.3% and Nasdaq futures were moving 0.5% lower.

US Housing starts for March came in at 1.521 million, easily topping the consensus expectation of 1.430 million, according to Investing.com. A higher-than-expected reading indicates a bullish outlook for the US dollar.

Oil prices were moving slightly higher, with front-month global benchmarks Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude rising 0.1% each.

In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei gained 0.66%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.24%, and China's Shanghai Composite was down 0.72 %. Meanwhile in Europe's early afternoon session, the UK's FTSE 100 was moving 0.2% lower, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC were up 0.22% and 0.49% respectively.

On the winning side, shares of Ontrak ( OTRK ) skyrocketed 165%, adding to an 8% gain on Monday. Fusion Pharmaceuticals ( FUSN ) shares soared 98% after it said it agreed to be acquired by AstraZeneca ( AZN ) for approximately $2.4 billion. Hoth Therapeutics (HOTH) surged 23% on positive data from a study of Alzheimer's disease pre-clinical treatment HT-ALZ. Shares of Enveric Biosciences ( ENVB ) jumped 56% after it said it signed two non-binding term sheets with a biotech firm to pursue the out-licensing of cannabinoid-COX-2 conjugate compounds to treat joint diseases. And Li-Cycle ( LICY ) shares climbed 22% a day after it said it took measures to "significantly reduce" its workforce and curtail nonoperational spending.

On the losing side, shares of Greenwave Technology Solutions ( GWAV ) plunged 52%, more than wiping out Monday's 23% gain. Seelos Therapeutics ( SEEL ) shares sank 51% after it said Tuesday that top-line data from a phase 2/3 study of its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis study of SLS-005 did not meet its primary or secondary endpoints. ShiftPixy ( PIXY ) shares tumbled 25% after soaring 100% in Monday's session. Shares of Acurx Pharmaceuticals ( ACXP ) shares fell 24% after it said late Monday that it will launch a stock offering. And shares of DLocal ( DLO ) lost more than 8% after the company's Q4 earnings and revenue missed street forecasts.