U.S. stock futures rose, following yesterday drop for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, amid speculation the Federal Reserve will provide more stimulus.
Federal Reserve officials tomorrow will probably announce a program for monetary easing that will do little to help 14 million unemployed Americans find work, according to economists in a Bloomberg News survey.
As expect, the Federal Open Market Committee will decide to replace short-term Treasuries in its $1.65 trillion portfolio with long- term bonds.
Stock futures maintained gains after a report showing builders began work on fewer homes than forecast in August. Housing starts dropped 5 percent to a three-month low 571,000 annual rate, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast in a survey called for a 590,000 pace.