Russell 2000 heads into Thursday after 0.4 percent Fed gain
Published on 10/29/2026 at 13:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFed decision and Thursday data
- Russell 2000 ended October 28 at 2,830.51 points, up 11.64 points or 0.4 percent.
- The Federal Reserve held rates at 3.75 to 4.00 percent in a 10-2 vote.
- Russell 2000 futures rose 0.62 percent before Thursday's open.
- GDP, PCE inflation and jobless claims are due October 29 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Russell 2000 closed on October 28 at 2,830.51 points, up 11.64 points or 0.4 percent, the Associated Press reported. The Federal Reserve held its policy rate at 3.75 to 4.00 percent in a split 10-2 decision.
Russell 2000 futures rose 0.62 percent before Thursday's open, while investors prepared for a dense US data calendar. The index's previous close was 2,818.87 points.
Why did the Russell 2000 rise on Wednesday?
The Federal Open Market Committee kept rates unchanged after its October meeting. Two voters favored a 25-basis-point increase, and the Fed said inflation remains elevated, CNBC reported. The decision followed a 0.4 percent gain for the small-cap index.
Russell 2000 futures point to a firm open
Russell 2000 futures were up 0.62 percent in early Thursday trading, while S&P 500 futures fell 0.32 percent. The divergence put small caps ahead of large-cap technology contracts, TradingView reported.
What comes next for the Russell 2000
- October 29, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET: Advance third-quarter GDP is expected at 3.2 percent, against 2.2 percent previously, Investing.com reports.
- October 29, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET: Core PCE inflation is forecast at 0.3 percent month over month, versus 0.2 percent previously, Investing.com reports.
- October 29, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET: Initial jobless claims are expected at 198,000, compared with 194,000 previously, Investing.com reports.
Russell 2000 price data for October 28, 2026
The Russell 2000 closed at 2,830.51 points on October 28, up 11.64 points or 0.4 percent, the Associated Press reported. The previous close was 2,818.87 points.
Russell 2000 by the numbers on October 28, 2026
- Index: Russell 2000
- Home exchange: NYSE and Nasdaq, United States
- Close on October 28, 2026: 2,830.51 points
- Change versus previous close of October 27, 2026: up 11.64 points (up 0.4 percent)
- Previous close: 2,818.87 points
- Next scheduled event: October 29, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET: Advance third-quarter GDP
