Stock futures edge higher ahead of Fed meeting

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock futures are inching higher as investors turn their attention to the Federal Reserve’s meeting after there were few surprises in the midterm elections.

By the end of Wednesday, investors will likely know exactly how much the Fed plans to spend to stimulate the economy. The central bank has hinted for two months it plans to buy Treasurys to drive interest rates lower. However, there is still plenty of debate about the size and length of the program.

Treasury prices rose slightly, sending interest rates lower ahead of the announcement.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are up 12, or 0.1 percent, at 11,164. S&P 500 futures are up 1, or 0.1 percent, at 1,194, while Nasdaq 100 futures are up 2, or 0.1 percent, at 2,152.

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Stock futures mostly dip before Bernanke’s speech

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock futures are mostly slipping as traders anxiously await a key speech from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and a handful of economic reports.

Nasdaq 100 futures are getting a modest lift Friday from strong Google earnings.

Bernanke’s speech will be closely watched because investors are looking for any further clues on the central bank’s plans to stimulate the economy. Expectations are the Fed will announce a concrete program to buy Treasurys after its next meeting wraps up in early November. But what is not known is how much the bank will spend.

Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 10, or 0.1 percent, at 1,1042. S&P 500 futures are down 1, or 0.1 percent, at 1,172. Nasdaq futures are up 5, or 0.2 percent, at 2,067.

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