US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Climb On Fed Hike And Firm Spending

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Friday, Sep, 18 2026

US stock futures are pointing higher this morning, with key contracts on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both up around 0.8% to 1%. The move comes after the Federal Reserve lifted its main interest rate band to 3.75% to 4.00%. This means borrowing costs on mortgages, credit cards and business loans are now higher. At the same time, US Retail Sales rose 1.2% in August, a sign households are still spending despite tighter money. Import prices climbed 0.7%, hinting at ongoing cost pressures for companies. Investors now have to weigh what higher rates and firm consumer demand mean for banks compared with interest rate sensitive areas such as housing and utilities.

Rising yields and higher borrowing costs are already sorting the fragile balance sheets from the sturdier ones, so this is a useful moment to scan for list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (23 results).

Top Movers

• Super Micro Computer (SMCI) jumped 9.50% after fresh attention on its AI server lineup and ecosystem partnerships.
• Astera Labs (ALAB) gained 9.06% as new Leo memory connectivity products highlighted its role in AI infrastructure.
• Arm Holdings (ARM) advanced 8.57% following commentary from CEO Rene Haas that drew focus to its AI chip roadmap.

Is Super Micro Computer still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

Top Losers

• T-Mobile US (TMUS) declined 5.57% as richer iPhone subsidies raised questions about long term carrier margins.
• CoreWeave (CRWV) fell 4.16% after announcing a US$6.3b financing and equity raise alongside product updates.
• Copart (CPRT) declined 3.76% after fresh analyst downgrades and continuing focus on its ACV Auctions acquisition.

Price swings like these can reshape risk profiles quickly, so many readers cross check them against fundamentals using Our stock screener.

Look past the noise - uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Copart's long-term success.

On The Radar

Fed policy signals stay in focus early next week, with a few targeted readings on economic momentum and a single corporate update.

• Progressive (PGR) reports August results on Friday, providing a fresh read on underwriting trends and premium growth discipline.
• US Federal Reserve communication includes Goolsbee speaking on Monday, refining how investors interpret this week’s rate hike path.
• US activity pulse comes from Monday’s Chicago Fed National Activity Index, helping clarify how broad the recent growth cooling is.
• China policy tone appears Monday with 1Y and 5Y Loan Prime Rates, which are important for global manufacturing and commodity demand.
• Global central bank watch features RBA Hunter’s speech Monday, offering additional context around how non US policymakers respond to higher yields.

Use our Portfolio or Watchlist features to track market-moving events like these and get alerts for the companies you own, free!

Don't Just Read The News, Use It

Big daily swings can hide sturdier stories, so it helps to have a focused shortlist right now with 30 resilient stocks with low risk scores. These companies pair measured risk profiles with balance sheets that many investors use as anchors when volatility heats up.

Ready to take control of your own hunt for opportunities? Our stock screener lets you run custom searches that fit your style and set timely alerts so you never miss a potential new idea.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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