The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) has pulled into Wednesday’s midrange near 41,500 as investors await the Federal Reserve's (Fed) first rate cut in over four years. Markets kicked off 2024 hoping for an initial rate cut in March, but have thus far been battled all the way back to Q3. Now it finally looks like the Fed is ready to play ball.

Stock futures are pointing to a higher open for major U.S. indexes on Wednesday as market participants await the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut in more than four years.

With the Federal Reserve poised to make an interest-rate decision, four Dow Jones components traded in buy zones early Wednesday — Travelers, Verizon, McDonald's, Home Depot and Visa — even as many investors choose to keep their powder dry until after the Fed news and market reaction.