The Dow Jones index is lower Wednesday after the Fed kept rates unchanged. Big Tech earnings loom.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq opened higher on Thursday as strong earnings reassured investors, even as concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East intensified.

Stock futures headed higher ahead of the final trading day of April, as investors mulled earnings reports from four tech giants and awaited those from another member of the "Magnificent Seven," Apple.

Stock Market Today: The Dow Jones index rose Thursday after key inflation data. Meta stock plunged on earnings.

Futures tied to major U. S. indices traded in mixed fashion as investors processed a wave of catalysts, including big tech earnings, a renewed surge in Brent crude prices, and a closely watched Federal Reserve rate decision.

The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) opened higher Thursday after a wave of mega-cap tech earnings, a 2% Q1 GDP print, and a pullback in crude oil. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) is doing the heavy lifting on cloud strength,

Investors brace for a busy earnings week

Long-term investors considering buying and holding the QQQ should also check out Invesco's newer Nasdaq-100 fund, QQQM. Invesco launched QQQM in 2020, and it also tracks the Nasdaq-100. With around $82 billion in AUM and a daily average trading volume of 3.

US stock market holds steady as S&P 500 and Nasdaq await Fed decision and Big Tech earnings, with oil prices adding pressure to inflation outlook.

Nasdaq brought together investors, issuers, bankers, and policymakers at Epicenter Stockholm for its latest Capital Market Forum, a half-day gathering focused on the themes shaping European capital markets today.