US, China Trade Talks Lift Major US Stock Futures

U.S. stock futures showed slight gains ahead of ongoing trade talks between the United States and China in London, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq nearing their highest levels since February. Investor optimism has been buoyed by hopes President Donald Trump will ease tariff tensions, supported by strong corporate earnings and positive economic indicators. Technology stocks, including Tesla, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Amazon, led the market rally, although Tesla's shares remained volatile following a public dispute between CEO Elon Musk and President Trump. Market participants are closely monitoring these trade discussions, which also address critical issues like rare earth mineral exports, while geopolitical developments involving Iran and energy markets add to the cautious sentiment. Despite recent rallies, futures dipped slightly ahead of the talks and key inflation reports, reflecting ongoing uncertainty. Treasury yields, the U.S. dollar, and commodities such as gold and oil exhibited muted movements as investors awaited clearer outcomes from these high-stakes negotiations.