US Stock Futures Dip Amid Trade Talks, Inflation Worries, and LA Unrest

U.S. stock index futures edged lower Sunday evening as investors braced for a busy week, with renewed U.S.-China trade negotiations and key inflation data in focus. Heightened civil unrest in Los Angeles also weighed on sentiment after National Guard troops were deployed to curb protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.1% to 5,998.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures dropped 0.2% to 21,748.50, and Dow Jones Futures declined 0.1% to 42,772.0 as of 23:17 GMT.

All eyes are on Monday’s high-stakes trade talks in London between top U.S. and Chinese officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting comes after Trump’s recent call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to restart discussions stalled by disputes over chip technology and rare earth exports.

Investors are also awaiting U.S. Consumer Price Index data due Wednesday, expected to show a modest uptick in inflation for May, driven by rising electricity prices and tariffs. The inflation report will be critical in assessing the broader impact of Trump’s economic policies amid market volatility.

Wall Street ended last week on a strong note, with the S&P 500 closing at 6,000.36, its highest since February, following upbeat nonfarm payrolls data. The Nasdaq gained 1.2% to 19,529.95, and the Dow rose 1.1% to 42,762.87. A rebound in Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) helped lift sentiment despite CEO Elon Musk’s public clash with Trump.

Also on investors’ radar is Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, where the company is expected to reveal its strategic direction amid ongoing share price pressure.