As the Federal Reserve prepares for a pivotal meeting this week, U.S. stock markets are showing mixed movements with futures slightly higher. The Dow Jones has hit a record high while the S&P 500 remains near its previous all-time high. Investors are speculating on the possibility of a substantial interest rate cut, with odds for a 50 basis point decrease climbing to 45%. Despite early gains, stocks have fluctuated due to profit-taking concerns and debates surrounding the scale of the potential Fed cut. Tech stocks, particularly impacted by weak earnings from key players like Apple, have weighed on indices such as the Nasdaq, contributing to a mixed trading environment leading into the Fed's key decision.