U.S. stock futures edged lower early Monday as investor attention turned sharply to renewed U.S.-China trade talks in London and Apple’s keynote at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Economic uncertainty and diplomatic tensions continue to shape trading sentiment, even as Wall Street celebrates strong labor data and record index levels.
1. Futures Slip Ahead of High-Stakes Week
At 03:30 ET (07:30 GMT), major index futures showed mild declines:
Dow futures fell 46 points (-0.1%)
S&P 500 futures slipped 6 points (-0.1%)
Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 39 points (-0.2%)
The dip follows a strong Friday close, driven by upbeat U.S. labor data and optimism surrounding Monday’s diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing.
2. U.S.-China Trade Talks Resume in London
High-level talks between U.S. and Chinese officials are underway in London, with the goal of reducing tensions over tariffs, export controls, and rare earth mineral supply. President Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs are currently on pause until August 12 following a Geneva truce reached last month.
The U.S. is represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while China’s delegation is led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Markets are watching closely for signs of a de-escalation that could re-open trade flows and improve multinational earnings outlooks.
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3. Apple’s WWDC Keynote: Eyes on AI
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will kick off its WWDC keynote today, with expectations centered on:
A new year-based OS naming convention (iOS 26 and beyond)
Design overhauls
Enhanced AI features under the Apple Intelligence brand
However, Apple’s AI-forward Siri upgrade is now reportedly delayed, dimming hopes for a major generative AI announcement at this conference.
Despite delays, the market is still betting big on AI integration into consumer tech. Traders will closely watch Apple’s tone and roadmap as competition from Alphabet, OpenAI, and Meta heats up.
