Stock futures steady before Boeing, ADP, Fed call

MADRID (MarketWatch) � U.S. stock market futures stuck to the flat line on Wednesday ahead of a private-sector payroll survey and growth data, along with the results of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting, in which the central bank is expected to stay its course.

Earnings from major companies like blue-chip Boeing Co. are also on offer.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJH3 �rose 6 points to 13,914, while those for the Standard & Poor�s 500 index SPH3 �rose 0.4 point to 1,505.50.

Futures for the Nasdaq 100 index NDH3 rose 2.25 points to 2,745.�

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At 8:15 a.m. U.S. Eastern time, ADP�s private-sector-payroll data report for January is expected to show jobs growth of 173,000, down from 215,000 in December. The number is important because it will likely give a clue about the all-important non-farm-payroll data that come out Friday. Read: What to watch on U.S. economy on Wednesday

On the heels of the ADP data, the Commerce Department will release its fourth-quarter gross- domestic-product estimate at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expect the economy grew around 1% in the last three months of 2012, a drop from a 3.1% gain in the third quarter.

But beyond that headline number, the data could show underlying strength, such as higher consumer spending and business investment.

Fed policy call

Last up, the Fed will make its policy announcement at 2:15 p.m. Eastern. The central bank is expected to press ahead with bond buying at a pace of $85 billion a month, with no signs of stopping until it sees signs of a broad-based economic expansion. Read: Fed to press ahead with bond buying

U.S. stocks largely advanced in the prior session, with oil prices hitting four-month highs and boosting stocks in the sector, which offset some disappointment from technology. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA �rose 72.49 points, or 0.5%, to 13,954.42.

Getty Images Enlarge Image The 7-inch (17.7cm) tablet Kindle Fire HD Family. The company reported results on Tuesday that sent shares soaring in after-hour�s trading.

The S&P 500 index SPX �gained 7.66 points, or 0.5%, to 1,507.84, shaking off a lower close the prior day that snapped an eight-session winning run. Read: Pfizer leads blue-chip stocks higher

On the corporate front, Boeing BA �is forecast to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.19 a share.

Among others, Hess Corp. HES �is expected to post earnings of $1.20 a share for the fourth quarter.

After the closing bell, Facebook Inc. FB �and Qualcomm Inc. QCOM �will report.

Amazon.com Inc. AMZN �shares will be squarely in the center of investor radar screens on Wednesday. The online retailer�s shares bounced after it late on Tuesday reported weaker-than-expected fourth- quarter sales but strong operating profit. Read: Amazon gets boost on profitability surprise

In other markets, the euro EURUSD �jumped above $1.35 against the dollar for the first time in 13 months. Read: Euro above $1.35 for first time in 13 months

Also check out: Matthew Lynn: The real euro crisis is just starting

Oil prices edged up, shaking off some losses related to weekly supply data from the American Petroleum Institute. The report showed crude-oil supplies rose more than expected.

March crude CLH3 �rallied 1.2% to $97.57 a barrel on Tuesday as the market got rattled by unrest in the Middle East and an East Coast refinery closure. Read: Oil recovers from inventory-report weakness