Stock Futures Rise as Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cuts After Weak Data

Stock futures were rising Wednesday, with investors increasingly sure the Federal Reserve is going to cut interest rates next month following weaker-than-expected retail sales data. Each of the three major indexes rallied on Tuesday, with the Dow jumping more than 660 points after two economic data points for September appeared to strengthen the case for the Fed to lower rates at its Dec. 9-10 policy meeting. “The latest batch of U.S. data kept the path open to a December rate cut,” Deutsche Bank macro strategist Henry Allen said.