U.S. stock futures fell slightly on Sunday night ahead of new trade talks between the United States and China. Dow Jones futures dropped about 60 points, or 0.1%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures also declined by around 0.2%.
Oil prices remained steady while gold prices fell. Bitcoin dropped below $106,000, and the U.S. Dollar Index, which compares the dollar against other major currencies, edged down.
President Donald Trump announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese officials in London on Monday. Trump said the talks “should go very well.”
Many investors see the talks as a positive sign, even if they don’t expect a major deal. Stephen Innes, a managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said that just having the talks is enough to lift market sentiment.
Last week, Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping spoke, and Trump mentioned progress on U.S. access to China’s rare earth minerals. However, tensions remain. The two countries paused tariffs for 90 days, but both accuse each other of breaking the agreement.
Investors are also uneasy about recent clashes in Los Angeles. There have been protests against immigration raids, with police using tear gas and the National Guard deployed on orders from Trump, despite objections from California’s governor.
On Friday, the S&P 500 closed above the 6,000 mark for the first time since February. This level is seen as important and could lead to new record highs. The Dow Jones gained 1% and erased its 2025 losses. The Nasdaq rose 1.2%. All three indexes ended the week with gains for the second week in a row.
The recent gains followed a stronger-than-expected jobs report for May. Trump also pressured Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, though experts believe rate cuts will come later this year. The Fed meets again on June 17-18.
This week, investors will watch inflation data for May, including the consumer price index and producer price index. Quarterly earnings reports from companies like RH, Victoria’s Secret, GameStop, and Oracle are also expected.
Investors remain cautious but hopeful as trade talks and economic data unfold.
