US STOCKS-S&P 500, Nasdaq futures tick up ahead of Fed meeting, AI conference

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window.) * Futures: Dow off 0.02%, S&P up 0.34%, Nasdaq adds 0.65% March 18 (Reuters) - Futures tracking the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting this week, where it is expected to keep borrowing costs steady and provide cues on its monetary policy path this year.

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window.) *

Futures: Dow off 0.02%, S&P up 0.34%, Nasdaq adds 0.65% March 18 (Reuters) -

Futures tracking the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Monday ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting this week, where it is expected to keep borrowing costs steady and provide cues on its monetary policy path this year. Stronger-than-expected inflation figures last week have prompted investors to rethink when and by how much policymakers will lower rates this year, with traders pulling back bets of a June rate cut to 57% from 71% last Monday, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Nevertheless, led by optimism around artificial intelligence (AI), Wall Street hit fresh all-time highs in March, before pulling back some gains last week. A hawkish tilt by the Fed in its policy meeting that concludes on Wednesday could further pressure the high-flying shares.

"While the recent pullback in tech stocks may follow fears that the market has run too far and portfolios are too concentrated, we believe investors can find compelling diversification opportunities through the next AI leaders," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management. Investors eyed chipmaker Nvidia's GTC developer conference from March 18 to 21, which will be parsed for AI-related announcements. Shares of the AI giant rose 2.1% in premarket trading.

Peers such as Micron Technology and Advanced Micro Devices added 2.6% and 1.2%, respectively. At 5:30 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 6 points, or 0.02%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 17.5 points, or 0.34%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 117.5 points, or 0.65%.

Most megacap growth and technology shares also advanced in trading before the bell. Alphabet gained 3.1% after a media report that Apple is in talks to build Google's Gemini AI engine into the iPhone.

Tesla rose 3.3% after the electric carmaker said it would increase the price of its Model Y EVs in some European countries on March 22, by approximately 2,000 euros ($2,177) or its equivalent in local currencies. U.S.-listed shares of Xpeng climbed 7.0% on plans to launch a cheaper EV brand amid fierce price competition.

Meanwhile, Boeing shed 1.1% after a media report that a Federal grand jury in Seattle issued a subpoena to the planemaker over the Jan. 5 midair blowout.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)