U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Trade Talks with China Loom

NEW YORK, N.Y. — U.S. stock futures pointed higher Sunday evening as Wall Street braces for a crucial week focusing on the U.S.-China trade war, corporate earnings, and economic data.

President Donald Trump shaped market sentiment once again, stating, “I’m not looking to destroy China,” a contrast to his earlier remarks in August where he suggested he held “incredible cards” that could harm the Chinese economy. Earlier this month, he announced new restrictions on China, affecting its control over rare earth supplies and imposing tighter export controls.

Last week, markets rebounded sharply after Trump reassured investors, saying, “Don’t worry about China,” and promising that the situation would improve. This positive sentiment appears to be carrying over into the weekend.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones industrial average rose 54 points, or 0.12%. S&P 500 futures increased by 0.15%, and Nasdaq futures gained 0.20%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained flat at 4.011%.

The U.S. dollar slipped 0.06% against the euro but rose 0.14% against the yen. Gold prices climbed 1% to $4,253.10 per ounce. U.S. oil futures held steady at $57.55 a barrel, while Brent crude prices were virtually unchanged at $61.27.

This week, investors will receive further updates on the trade war as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. This meeting comes ahead of a scheduled encounter between Trump and Xi Jinping later this month during a regional economic summit in South Korea.

Meanwhile, the third-quarter earnings season is picking up steam following strong reports from major banks, with key tech companies set to report soon. Notably, on Tuesday, companies like Apple and Microsoft are due to release earnings. On Wednesday, Amazon will report results, and Alphabet is scheduled for Thursday.

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the Labor Department will issue the consumer price index report for September on Friday after recalling key personnel. Economists predict a 0.4% monthly increase, mirroring August’s progress, and a 3.1% annual rise, an acceleration from 2.9% in August.