Russell 2000 heads into Fed decision after 1.2 percent gain

The Russell 2000 finished October 27 at 2,819 points, up 32 points or 1.2 percent. The advance came as technology shares rallied before the Federal Reserve's rate decision, while Brent crude topped 115 USD.

Before Wednesday's open, Russell 2000 futures slipped 0.2 percent, according to Yahoo Finance. The move followed a strong prior session for small caps.

Why is the Russell 2000 in focus before the Fed?

The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to announce its decision at 2:00 p.m. ET. Markets expect no change to the 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent target range, while the statement and press conference may shape expectations for December, Yahoo Finance reports.

Tuesday's rally also followed renewed interest in artificial intelligence shares and lower energy prices. The Russell 2000 gained 1.16 percent as the Nasdaq rose 1.18 percent, according to The Market Breakdown.

Russell 2000 cues before Wednesday's open

The October 27 close stood 32 points above the previous close of 2,786 points. Oil has since moved higher, with Brent crude above 115 USD and the 10-year Treasury yield at 5.01 percent, according to Bloomberg via Swissinfo.

What comes next for the Russell 2000

• October 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET: Federal Reserve rate decision; markets expect the target range to remain 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent, Investrade reports.
• October 28, 2026, 2:30 p.m. ET: Federal Reserve press conference, according to Yahoo Finance.
• October 28, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET: Alphabet earnings call, followed by Microsoft's call at 5:30 p.m. ET, according to TokenPost.

Russell 2000 price data for October 27, 2026

The Russell 2000 closed at 2,819 points on October 27, up 32 points or 1.2 percent versus the previous close of 2,786 points, Associated Press reports.

More market reports and analysis on the Russell 2000