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U.S. stock index futures surged on Thursday, with those tracking the Nasdaq climbing nearly 2% following the Federal Reserve's move to start its easing cycle with a half a percentage point cut, aiding a soft landing for the world's biggest economy.

Investors’ giddy reaction turned slightly negative to the hotly anticipated Federal Reserve decision to lower interest rates by 50 basis points Wednesday, as the central bank opted for the more stock-friendly route to kick off its rate cutting cycle.