US Stock Futures Rise on Easing US-China Tariffs, S&P 500 Nears Weekly Gains

U.S. stock futures rose Friday, positioning major indexes such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq for solid weekly gains, buoyed by easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China and softer inflation data. The S&P 500 closed the week up 4.5%, with the Nasdaq gaining over 6%, driven partly by strong performances in major tech stocks like Alphabet, Nvidia, and Tesla, although Meta Platforms faced some setbacks due to AI rollout delays. Economic indicators including weak housing starts and building permits, alongside softer retail sales and inflation figures, have reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at least twice this year. The rally has pushed the S&P 500 to levels near 6000 and the Nasdaq into overbought territory, with investors showing renewed appetite for risk despite ongoing uncertainties regarding tariffs and trade policy. Additionally, notable corporate moves included Charter Communications' significant merger with Cox Communications and mixed earnings reports from companies like Take-Two Interactive and Applied Materials. Meanwhile, currency markets saw the dollar weaken against major peers, and bond yields declined as markets priced in more Fed rate cuts.