![U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on interest rate policy in Washington on July 31, 2024.](https://media.nbcboston.com/2024/12/108014586-17224590832024-07-31t205051z_1093233379_rc2j69al6ijc_rtrmadp_0_usa-economy-fed.jpeg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=320%2C180)
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its ninth straight day of losses.
- A big Fed decision is coming Wednesday.
- Japanese automakers Nissan Motor and Honda Motor are considering a merger.
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Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:
1. (Dow)n in the dumps
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its ninth straight day of losses on Tuesday. It's the index's longest losing streak since 1978 and notably comes at a time when the broader market is faring just fine. Though the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both lost some ground on Tuesday, both averages are up for the month, while the Dow is down more than 3%. CNBC explains why the Dow is in such a historic funk and how concerned investors should be. And as always, follow live market updates.
2. Counting quarters
A big Fed decision is coming Wednesday, and Wall Street is betting on another quarter-point haircut. Futures market traders are pricing in expectations that the central bank will bring its benchmark borrowing rate down to a target range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Though the rate cut is widely expected, it's not nearly as welcome: A CNBC survey found that 93% of respondents anticipate a cut, but only 63% thought it would be the right thing to do.
3. Spending stopgap
![The U.S. Capitol Building is seen on December 2, 2024 in Washington, DC.](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108070110-1733169032051-gettyimages-2187388238-Senators_Return_To_Capitol_Hill_After_Thanksgiving_Break.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080)
Congress is days away from a government shutdown. Funding runs up to Friday, at the same time government leaders are set to adjourn for the holidays. Congressional leaders on Tuesday released the text of a bill that would fund the government through March 14. If passed, the stopgap bill would tee up another budget deadline just weeks into President-elect Donald Trump's new term.
4. Merge ahead?
![Makoto Uchida (L), president and CEO of Japanese auto maker Nissan, shakes hands with Toshihiro Mibe (R), director, president and representative executive officer of auto maker Honda, following a press conference in Tokyo on August 1, 2024.](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108077071-1734458842290-gettyimages-2164107743-AFP_367B4BT.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080)
Japanese automakers Nissan Motor and Honda Motor are considering a merger. The companies are preparing to enter negotiations that could result in the competitors coming together under a holding company. The combined operation (including Nissan-backed Mitsubishi, in time) would amount to 8 million vehicles sales annually, according to Nikkei, which first reported the merger talks. That sales volume would put the tie-up on par with some of the world's largest automakers but still shy of annual sales by Toyota Motor and Volkswagen.
5. Suspect indicted
![Luigi Mangione, 26, a suspect in the New York City killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, is escorted after an extradition hearing at Blair County Court House in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 10, 2024.](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108074104-17338670102024-12-10t214005z_503006956_rc2lmbacd8p0_rtrmadp_0_unitedhealth-ceo.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080)
Luigi Mangione was indicted Tuesday on charges of murdering the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson. The 26-year-old is charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder, one of which is charged as killing as an act of terrorism. He also faces charges related to possession of a weapon and of a forged license. Mangione faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without parole if he is convicted.
Money Report
– CNBC's Brian Evans, Samantha Subin, Yun Li, Jeff Cox, Michael Wayland and Dan Mangan, and NBC News contributed to this report.