07:09 AM EDT, 03/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity markets were pointing lower before the opening bell Thursday as investors assess the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its interest rate outlook for 2025.

Standard & Poor's 500 declined 0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 0.6% and the Nasdaq was off 0.9% in premarket activity. Asian exchanges were mixed to lower while European bourses were trending downwards midday on the continent.

The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday left its benchmark lending rate steady at 4.25% to 4.50% for a second straight meeting. The Fed also kept its policy outlook intact through 2027 while downgrading its economic projections. Policymakers continue to see the median federal funds rate at 3.9% this year, unchanged from their December guidance.

Shares of QXO (QXO) climbed 2% pre-bell after the company agreed to acquire Beacon Roofing Supply ( BECN ) for $11 billion. Five Below ( FIVE ) jumped 11% pre-bell as the discount retailer reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results.

Accenture ( ACN ) , PDD (PDD), Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) , FactSet Research Systems (FDS), Jabil ( JBL ) , Commercial Metals ( CMC ) , Veon (VEON) and Academy Sports and Outdoors (ASO) are scheduled to release earnings before the bell, among others.

Micron Technology ( MU ) , Nike ( NKE ) , FedEx ( FDX ) and Lennar ( LEN ) disclose their latest financial statements after markets close.

On the economic calendar, the weekly jobless claims bulletin, the Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing index for March and the fourth-quarter current account report are due at 8:30 am ET. The existing home sales report for February is out at 10 am, along with the leading indicators index for the same month. The weekly EIA natural gas report posts at 10:30 am.

Before the opening bell, bitcoin edged down 0.1% to $85,249, West Texas Intermediate crude oil remained unchanged at $67.16 a barrel, yields on 10-year Treasuries retreated 4.6 basis points to 4.21% and gold moved 0.2% lower to $3,034 an ounce.