US-China Trade Talks Continue as Global Markets Hold Flat Ahead of CPI Data

U.S. stock futures and major indexes showed little movement as investors remain cautious amid ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations in London, with particular focus on potential easing of export controls related to rare earth minerals and semiconductor access. While chip stocks rallied on hopes for relaxed restrictions, overall market futures, including the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq, traded in a narrow range reflecting uncertainty about the talks yielding a comprehensive deal. Investors are also awaiting critical U.S. inflation data, especially the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report expected midweek, which could influence Federal Reserve rate expectations and market direction. Despite some positive momentum in certain sectors like semiconductors, major companies such as Apple experienced slight declines following product announcements. The pending rare-earth minerals deal between China and U.S. automakers is noted as a partial progress point, though a full trade agreement remains elusive with a key tariff deadline approaching in July. Overall, market participants are balancing cautious optimism from trade developments with anticipation of inflation data that will shape economic and monetary policy outlooks.