S&P 500 Hits Record High as Futures Rise Ahead of Fed Rate Cut, U.S.-China Talks

U.S. stock futures rose modestly following a record-breaking session in which the S&P 500 closed above 6,600 for the first time, supported by optimism over President Donald Trump's positive remarks on U.S.-China trade talks. Major indexes including the Nasdaq and Dow Jones also posted gains, with technology stocks like Alphabet and Tesla leading the advance. Investors are now focused on the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest rate decision, widely expected to include a 25 basis point cut, and are closely monitoring Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for insights on future monetary policy. Despite concerns about a weakening labor market and persistent inflation above the Fed's 2% target, market sentiment remains bullish, driven by expectations of tax stimulus and rate cuts fostering economic growth. Meanwhile, broader economic data on retail sales, housing, and import prices are awaited, and geopolitical factors such as ongoing U.S.-China negotiations and regulatory scrutiny on companies like Nvidia are influencing market dynamics. Gold prices have surged significantly this year amid economic uncertainties, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.