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U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Monday, with market participants taking a cautious stance ahead of renewed trade talks between Washington and Beijing, as well as the release of key inflation data later this week.
As of 04:45 ET (08:45 GMT), Dow Jones Futures were up by 13 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 Futures remained largely flat, and Nasdaq 100 Futures slipped 24 points, or 0.1%.
On Friday, Wall Street’s main averages finished higher, bolstered by a stronger-than-expected U.S. labor market reading for May and President Donald Trump’s announcement of today’s trade meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in London. The S&P 500 ended above 6,000 for the first time since February 21, reflecting renewed optimism.
However, investor sentiment was slightly rattled by signs of increasing civil unrest in Los Angeles, where the National Guard was deployed over the weekend to address widespread protests against President Trump’s immigration policies.
U.S.-China Trade Talks
Top U.S. officials are meeting with their Chinese counterparts in London in an effort to resolve the ongoing trade dispute between the two largest economies. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will join high-level Chinese officials, including Vice Premier and chief trade negotiator He Lifeng, for discussions.
These talks come after a period of escalating tensions, driven by Trump’s threat of higher tariffs on China and concerns about the supply of rare earth minerals from China. Despite a preliminary agreement reached last month in Geneva, which included a temporary pause and reduction of tariffs, the U.S. “reciprocal” tariffs on China remain on hold until August 12.
Earlier data showed China’s export growth slowing to a three-month low in May, largely due to the impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese shipments.
Key Inflation Data on the Horizon
This week, investors are focusing on Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which is expected to show a slight uptick in inflation for May. Analysts predict the annual CPI could rise to 2.5% from 2.3% the previous month, with higher electricity prices and trade tariffs contributing to the increase. Following the CPI report, the Producer Price Index (PPI) will be released on Friday, providing further insight into inflationary pressures.
These inflation figures are crucial for understanding the impact of Trump’s policies on economic growth, particularly the uncertainties surrounding trade tariffs and their broader effect on U.S. inflation.
Apple’s Annual Developers Conference
On the corporate front, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) later on Monday, a key event where the tech giant typically unveils its software strategy for the coming months. This year, Apple is expected to address its ongoing decline in share price while revealing updates to its operating systems.
Reports suggest that Apple may introduce a new numbering regime for its operating system, moving away from a sequential series to one based on the year. For example, iOS 26 is expected to feature major design changes, with potential enhancements to the artificial intelligence-powered Apple Intelligence service. However, details about the exact nature of these updates remain scarce at this time.
In summary, U.S. stock futures are in a holding pattern as traders await developments from the U.S.-China trade talks and closely watch the upcoming inflation data. Investors are also focused on corporate news, especially Apple’s WWDC, which could offer clues about the company’s strategy and future direction.
