Stock futures are pointing to a higher open for major U.S. indexes on Wednesday as market participants await the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut in more than four years.

U.S. stocks rose after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5%. That was the first rate cut in over four years that marked the beginning of a monetary-easing cycle in the world's largest economy.

Markets in Europe and Asia shot higher on Thursday after the Federal Reserve kicked off its efforts to prevent a recession in the U.S. with a bigger-than-usual cut to interest rates. U.S. futures were higher after a lackluster response on Wall Street to the Fed's move the day before.