5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

U.S. stock futures were flat Wednesday, the morning after strong earnings from Google-parent Alphabet and Microsoft. Dow stock Boeing, before the market open, issued its sixth consecutive quarterly loss but it expects a turning point in 2021 as more people get vaccinated against Covid. Apple and Facebook issue their earnings after the bell.

Investors will also hear from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the central bank's post-meeting news conference Wednesday afternoon. The Fed is not expected to adjust near-zero interest rates or the pace of asset purchases. But Powell will certainly face questions about his willingness to let inflation run hot. The 10-year Treasury yield topped1.65% Wednesday morning in advance of the conclusion of the Fed's two-day April meeting.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Tuesday broke two-session winning streaks, dipping from their previous day record closes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose slightly and remained within 1% of its April 16 record close.