5 things to know before the market opens Wednesday


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Happy Wednesday. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of déjà vu reading about Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the White House’s crosshairs.

S&P 500 futures are little changed this morning. All three major averages logged a negative session yesterday.

Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

1. Powell’s Fed finale?

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, March 18, 2026.

Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images

It’s Fed Day. The central bank will release its latest monetary policy decision this afternoon, followed by Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference — what could be his last as the head of the Federal Reserve.

Here’s what to know:

  • The Fed is widely expected to announce it is holding interest rates steady at 2 p.m. ET.
  • Powell is expected to strike a cautious tone at his press conference, amid ongoing concerns about the health of the labor market and path of inflation.
  • Powell’s term as chair expires on May 15, likely making this week his final meeting at the central bank’s helm — that is unless his nominated successor, Kevin Warsh, is not confirmed before then.
  • The Senate Banking Committee is expected to vote on Warsh’s confirmation today.
  • Respondents to CNBC’s Fed survey showed doubt over whether Warsh will be able to remain independent and cut interest rates amid inflationary pressures.
  • We’re also keeping an eye on the Supreme Court, which could rule this morning on Trump’s attempted firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

2. Red scare

Traders work on the floor of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

3. OPEC-

United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Energy Suhail Al Mazrouei holds a press conference after the 33rd OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC ministerial meeting, which was held to evaluate the market conditions and to discuss the production amount to be applied as of November, in Vienna, Austria on October 05, 2022.

Askin Kiyagan | Anadolu | Getty Images

In a shocking announcement, the United Arab Emirates said yesterday that it would leave OPEC and OPEC+ this week. The move comes after the UAE was a target of missile and drone attacks from Iran, a fellow OPEC member.

UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei told CNBC that the country decided to leave at a time it felt would be the least impactful for other members of the group of oil producers. The UAE was the third-largest producer in the group, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

As CNBC’s Spencer Kimball and Pippa Stevens report, the UAE’s exit raises concern over whether the cartel will be able to influence the oil market. It also hampers Saudi Arabia’s ability to manage OPEC.

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4. On the stand

Elon Musk reacts at a federal courthouse during a recess of the trial in his lawsuit over OpenAI for-profit conversion, in Oakland, California, U.S., April 28, 2026. 

Manuel Orbegozo | Reuters

5. Served hot

A customer inside a Starbucks coffee shop in Hercules, California, US, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Shares of Starbucks are roughly 5% higher this morning after the coffee chain beat second-quarter expectations on both lines yesterday. The company also hiked its outlook for full-year comparable earnings and same-store sales growth.

Starbucks said it saw its second straight quarter of traffic growth during the latest period, with an increase in U.S. sales driven by demand for its protein cold foam and new bakery items.

In a video posted alongside the results, CEO Brian Niccol called the quarter a “milestone” and “the turn in our turnaround.” Niccol will join CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” at 9 a.m. ET. Watch live on CNBC or CNBC+.

The Daily Dividend

The way it’s going now, there will be some kind of bond crisis, and then we’ll have to deal with it.

Jamie Dimon

JPMorgan Chase CEO

CNBC’s Jeff Cox, Steve Liesman, Sean Conlon, Samantha Subin, Yun Li, Hugh Son, Lora Kolodny, Jeffrey Kopp, Ashley Capoot, Ari Levy, Amelia Lucas, Spencer Kimball, Pippa Stevens, Emma Graham and Dan Murphy contributed to this report.

Davis Giangiulio assisted in the production of this newsletter. Josephine Rozzelle edited this edition.

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