Fed Decision Due Thursday — Will December Path Turn Hawkish?
QQQ was nearly flat Friday while SPY fell 0.52% and Nasdaq 100 futures edged up 0.06%, as investors awaited the Fed decision and mega-cap earnings. Rates are expected to hold at 3.75%–4.00%, leaving focus on guidance for inflation, jobs, and December. High oil prices limit room to ease. A neutral message could leave Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon to set direction; a hawkish tone may lift yields and pressure tech valuations. What would show policy risk is fading first: stable yields or neutral Fed guidance?