"SP futures live" are steady at +0.20%, as lower U.S. jobless claims bolster economic optimism. Futures positioning data shows an uptick in leveraged long bets, hinting at potential for sharper moves if data surprises persist. The Ledger spoke to each of the candidates about who they are, their inspiration for running and some of the key issues leading their campaign. The candidates follow in alphabetical order. The two-day Fed meeting, which kicked off on Tuesday, is expected to result in a rate cut for the first time since December. Interest rate futures are pricing in a 100% certainty of at least a quarter-point rate cut, according to the CME's FedWatch tool. What investors are watching most is the central bank's forecast for rates for the rest of the year and whether voting members are expecting one more additional cut or two more before 2025 ends. Early signals from "SP futures live" show a modest rise of 0.27%, driven by gains in semiconductor stocks after strong Asia market closes. Market sentiment trackers note a pickup in net-long speculative positions on CME, indicating growing conviction for a near-term rally.