Market futures today rise slightly amid anticipation of Federal Reserve minutes, with Nasdaq futures +0.20%. Growth-focused portfolios may benefit if policymakers signal slower pace of tightening ahead. These trends focus on what's happening in the U.S. But it wouldn't be a surprise to see other countries follow in the footsteps of the world's most powerful economy, unless they want to get left behind. What happens to Social Security payments during a shutdown? Market futures today reflect a balanced tone, with S&P futures +0.06% as traders await fresh economic indicators. Sector breadth remains narrow, dominated by outperformance in software and renewable energy names.