Anticipation Builds With Fed Expected to Hike Interest Rates for First Time in 3 Years
September 16, 2026
Stock Market Today
The Federal Reserve's September policy meeting kicked off Tuesday morning, with markets overwhelmingly expecting the Fed to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday amid persistently high inflation.
Such a move would mark the Fed's first increase in the federal funds rate since 2023, when the central bank concluded its post-pandemic hiking campaign. However, inflation has remained above the Fed's 2% target for more than five years, with the war in the Middle East serving as the latest driver of higher prices.
As Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh said during his Jackson Hole Symposium speech in August, "We have work to do."
Still, holding rates steady isn't entirely off the table, even as traders price in a 92% chance of a rate hike, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Warsh has avoided providing forward guidance on interest rate decisions, preferring that officials debate the data at FOMC meetings.
In addition to whether the Fed will raise rates, markets will closely scrutinize the Fed's Summary of Economic Projections and dot plot for clues about the path of monetary policy over the next few years. Yahoo Finance reports.
EdgeUp
🚚 Einride and Lidl Launch First Autonomous Cab-Less Truck on Public Road, Stock Up in Pre-Market
Einride AB and Lidl Germany announced the deployment of Germany's first cab-less SAE Level 4 autonomous truck in daily operations on a public road.
The autonomous truck, operating without a driver or safety operator on board, is transporting goods between a Lidl warehouse, distribution center, and store. The vehicle is operating under an official permit from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority, the first of its kind granted in the country.
Germany is Europe's largest road transport market and has some of the world's strictest road safety regulations. The Level 4 approval followed an extensive safety validation process and represents a step toward expanding autonomous logistics beyond pilot programs into everyday commercial operations. GlobeNewswire reports.
🚢 Hafnia’s TORM Stake Hits 18% After Another Major Stock Purchase
Hafnia Limited shares rose Wednesday in pre-market trading after the tanker operator agreed to acquire an additional 4.5 million shares of TORM.
Hafnia will purchase the shares at $32.25 each, representing 4.39% of TORM’s issued and outstanding share capital. Following the transaction, Hafnia’s stake in TORM will increase to approximately 18.22%.
The purchase follows Hafnia’s September 2025 agreement to acquire about 14.1 million TORM shares from Oaktree for $311.43 million, or $22 per share. Benzinga reports.
💾 What’s Going on With SK hynix Stock Wednesday?
SK hynix shares rose more than 3% in Wednesday pre-market trading as investors showed stronger appetite for technology and semiconductor stocks.
The company is also reportedly in talks with Intel about a potential deal that could bring SK hynix memory chip production to the U.S. for the first time. Benzinga reports.
🧬 Why Tempest Therapeutics Shares Are Trading Higher by Around 50%
Tempest Therapeutics shares rose sharply in pre-market trading after the clinical-stage biotechnology company announced an exclusive option agreement with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology.
The agreement gives Tempest an exclusive option to license Senlang’s CD7-targeted lentiviral vector platform and its in vivo CAR-T pipeline, including a dual-targeting candidate currently in Phase 1 trials for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Tempest Therapeutics shares jumped 49.6% to $1.13 in pre-market trading. Benzinga reports.
🤖 DataMEDS AI Stock Soars 66% in Pre-Market
DataMEDS AI shares surged 66.04% to $2.68 in Wednesday pre-market trading after the company completed its acquisition of Helomics, an AI-driven cancer diagnostics laboratory, from Axe Compute.
The $1.5 million acquisition includes Helomics’ clinical laboratory, equipment and $1.5 million in cash. DataMEDS said the acquisition carries no third-party debt. TradingView reports.
Top 5 Movers in Early Pre-Market
(All pricing and percent gains are based on Early Pre-Market from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM ET). Stock Analysis reports.
1) MEDS: DataMEDS AI, Inc.
Total gain: +156.17%
2) RETO: ReTo Eco-Solutions, Inc.
Total gain: +37.86%
3) NAMI: Jinxin Technology Holding Company
Total gain: +30.26%
4) YFOR: YYForce Inc.
Total gain: +17.86%
5) ENRD: Einride AB
Total gain: +16.53%
Yesterday's Biggest Movers
The closing price of the top three market percent gainers trading near or above $2 on Sep 15.
(All pricing and percent gains are based on regular market trading hours from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET)
Stock Analysis reports.
1) VEEA: Veea Inc.
Total gain: +149.34%
The company today announced they have signed a term sheet to combine and are targeting execution of a definitive business combination agreement within the coming weeks. In connection with the business combination, the parties have also announced an agreement to launch NovaGen Health Networks: a connected health platform integrating Veea's edge computing, connectivity and cybersecurity capabilities with NovaGen's cellular reprogramming science and clinical services. Initial deployments will begin at NovaGen clinics and partner hospitals in Q4 2026. GlobeNewswire reports.
2) PSIG: PS International Group Ltd.
Total gain: +34.65%
The company announced the completion of a strategic acquisition of two adjacent parcels totaling approximately 29.4 acres in Texas. The acquisition increases AIB’s total contracted power capacity from 65 megawatts (“MW”) to 120 MW. GlobeNewswire reports.
3) VRA: Vera Bradley, Inc.
Total gain: +34.54%
The company today announced its financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending January 30, 2027 (“Fiscal 2027”). GlobeNewswire reports.
Today’s Notable Earnings
Estimate and Actual numbers represent Earnings Per Share in US Dollars.
LEN
Lennar
Q3 2026
After Market Close
Estimate: 1.290
Actual: N/A
ALMU
Aeluma
Q4 2026
After Market Close
Estimate: -0.070
Actual: N/A
LUXE
LuxExperience
Q4 2026
Before Market Open
Estimate: -0.140
Actual: N/A
Today’s Economic Dates
Time (ET) / Report / Period
- 8:30 AM / Retail Sales / Aug.
- 8:30 AM / Import Prices / Aug.
- 10:00 AM / Manufacturing & Trade: Inventories / Jul.
Parting Thoughts
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