Stock Market Update: S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Futures Surge After Fed Rate Cut—Attention on Broadcom, Cracker Barrel, and FedEx
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 18 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Market Overview: U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday following a mixed performance on Wednesday, with major indices showing gains. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, indicating potential further easing due to a cooling labor market and employment risks.
Sector Performance: Most sectors in the S&P 500 closed positively, particularly consumer staples, financials, and materials, while information technology and industrials lagged. Individual stocks like General Mills exceeded expectations, while Manchester United's shares fell after mixed results.
Economic Indicators: U.S. housing starts dropped 8.5% in August, missing estimates, and building permits also declined. Analysts suggest that the S&P 500 could see substantial growth in the second year of the Fed's rate-cutting cycle, provided the economy avoids recession.
Future Projections: The Federal Reserve's projections indicate a shallow path for interest rate cuts through 2026, with uncertainty surrounding economic conditions. Analysts warn of potential risks, including high government deficits and geopolitical instability, which could impact market performance.
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Analyst Views on GIS
Wall Street analysts forecast GIS stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GIS is 52.38 USD with a low forecast of 47.00 USD and a high forecast of 63.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 44.350
Low
47.00
Averages
52.38
High
63.00
Current: 44.350
Low
47.00
Averages
52.38
High
63.00
About GIS
General Mills, Inc. is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods. Its segments include North America Retail; International; North America Pet, and North America Foodservice. The North America Retail segment reflects business with a variety of grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains, convenience stores, and e-commerce grocery providers. The International segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses outside the United States and Canada. Its product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, meal kits, salty snacks, snack bars, dessert and baking mixes, and shelf-stable vegetables. The North America Pet segment includes pet food products sold in the United States and Canada in national pet superstore chains, e-commerce retailers, and grocery stores. The North America Foodservice segment product categories include ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, and baking mixes.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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