S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Steady After AI-Driven Surge To Record Highs — Powell Speech In Focus As Strategist Downplays Meltdown Risks

The U.S. index futures traded nearly flat with a slight negative bias late Wednesday after the previous session’s tech-led rally that took the S&P 500 and the major tech indices to new peaks. The government shutdown has entered its ninth day, with a resolution remaining elusive amid a lack of consensus among lawmakers. The spotlight shifts to a spe…