5 things to know before the stock market opens Thursday

Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

Stocks were mixed Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell again warned that tighter monetary policy was on the way. That may include rate hikes at consecutive Fed policy-setting meetings after the central bank hit pause in June. Still, equities are on track to finish the first half of the year on a high note. The broad S&P 500 is up more than 6% this quarter, which would be its third straight positive period. Follow live market updates.