US Stock Futures Dip Ahead of Fed Meeting and Potential US-China Trade Talks

US stock futures slipped Sunday evening after the S&P 500 marked its longest winning streak in over 20 years, as investor caution resurfaced ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting and renewed speculation over US-China trade negotiations.

As of 19:56 ET, S&P 500 Futures dropped 0.6% to 5,674.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures fell 0.7% to 20,060.00, and Dow Jones Futures declined 0.5% to 41,218.00. The dip comes after Wall Street posted solid gains on Friday, driven by stronger-than-expected US jobs data and a potential thaw in trade tensions with China.

Nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, exceeding forecasts of 138,000, though March’s figure was revised down to 185,000. The data reinforced optimism about labor market resilience despite ongoing tariff-related uncertainty. On Friday, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq each gained about 1.5%, capping a week of 3% to 5% gains. The S&P 500 extended its winning streak to nine consecutive sessions, its longest since November 2004.

China last week hinted at openness to fresh trade talks, but emphasized that dialogue must involve sincerity and removal of US-imposed tariffs. The comments followed Washington’s signals of interest in restarting negotiations, offering a glimmer of hope in the long-running trade dispute.

Looking ahead, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s upcoming two-day policy meeting beginning Tuesday. The Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged amid persistent inflation concerns tied to Trump-era tariffs. Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently reaffirmed a cautious stance, resisting calls from President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to lower interest rates.

Analysts at ING noted that while near-term rate cuts remain unlikely, cooling economic conditions could pave the way for monetary easing in the second half of the year.