Fed Decision Day: Futures Flat as Retail Sales Beat, IP Firms, HMI Steady — Sep 17, 2025 Scalper’s Playbook Market Overview & Sentiment News U.S. equity index futures trade near flat into the FOMC (statement 2:00 ET; Powell 2:30 ET). August retail sales beat keeps growth signals alive as yesterday’s IP firmed at the margin and builder sentiment stayed subdued. Oil is steady into the 10:30 ET EIA release, and 10Y yields hover near ~4.0–4.1%. Read: cautious, range-biased risk tone into the decision with sensitivity to Powell’s tone and the new SEP. Technical Analysis Expect a compressed AM range with expansions keyed to 10:30 / 14:00 / 14:30 ET. Rising volume on a VWAP loss favors mean-reversion shorts back toward mid/previous balance; VWAP holds with improving breadth support continuation flags. ES: Lean long above VWAP on higher lows + improving cumulative delta; flip short on decisive VWAP break with breadth deterioration. NQ: Momentum-skewed;...

Hot PPI vs Retail Sales: August 15 Trading Blueprint Market Overview & Sentiment News Global equity markets continue to hover near record highs, bolstered by signs of cooling U.S. consumer inflation and hopes that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting rates later this year. The mood is tempered by a hot July producer‑price index and weak Chinese factory and retail data, which have raised concerns about global growth. European indices and Japan’s Nikkei extended multi‑week rallies thanks to strong earnings and expectations that a high‑stakes summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska could lead to a ceasefire in Eastern Europe. U.S. equity fund inflows have surged as investors cheer the softer July CPI and an extension of the U.S.‑China tariff truce; technology funds are drawing their biggest inflows since early 2021. Meanwhile, crude oil prices are trading near two‑month lows: traders expect the Alaska summit and weak Chi...