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US stock futures nudged lower on Wednesday as investors assessed a US-China plan to salvage their trade truce, with the latest reading on US consumer inflation on deck.
Futures on the S&P 500 (ES=F) and on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) fell roughly 0.2%. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) moved down 0.1%.
Markets are giving a muted response to a US-China framework agreement to get the Geneva tariff truce back on track. Investors are still in the dark about the details of the deal, though it is expected to ease China’s grip on rare earths. Plus, the agreement has yet to get sign-off from Presidents Trump and Xi.
CME – Delayed Quote USD
As of 7:12:40 AM EDT. Market Open.
ES=F YM=F NQ=F
After two days of marathon talks in London, no other meetings are scheduled between the two sides — a potential concern for markets craving certainty around tariffs. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) have risen to within striking distance of record closing highs amid optimism for potential trade deals.
Read more: The latest on Trump’s tariffs
Investors are now looking to the consumer price index for May due later for any sign that tariffs are pushing up inflation.
The report, set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET., reflects the time after Trump’s “Liberation Day” hikes shook markets and businesses. It’s expected to show the headline rate ticked higher to 2.4% month-on-month, while the “core” reading — which strips out food and energy prices — accelerated slightly year-on-year to 2.9%.
With the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting coming next week, investors will be wary of any signs that costs associated with tariffs are being passed onto the consumer.
On the corporate front, eyes are on Oracle’s (ORCL) results expected after the bell for insight into the cloud-computing provide AI strategy.
LIVE 4 updates
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Good morning. Here’s what’s happening today.
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Trending tickers: GameStop, Tesla and Victoria Secret
Here are some top stocks trending on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading:
GameStop (GME) stock fell 4% before the bell on Wednesday after posting its first quarter earnings the day prior. The US video game retailer announced net sales of $732.4M, down from $881.8M in the same period of 2024.
Tesla (TSLA) stock rose 1% in premarket trading, after CEO Elon Musk backtracked on his comments towards President Trump. Musk said: “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week,” he said on his social-media platform, X. “They went too far.”
Victoria Secret’s (VSCO) shares rose by 1% ahead of its earnings release on Wednesday. The retailer, which recently reported a cyberattack, is expected by analysts to reoort revenue of around $1.35B.
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May CPI on deck: Inflation expected to tick higher as tariff uncertainty lingers
Yahoo Finance’s Allie Canal reports:
May’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to show prices increased at a slightly faster clip than in April. The report, due Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET, comes as investors closely watch for any signs that President Trump’s tariffs are impacting what consumers pay.
According to Bloomberg data, headline inflation is expected to have accelerated slightly to 2.4% in May from 2.3% in April, which marked the lowest yearly increase since February 2021. Month-over-month, prices are estimated to rise 0.2%, matching April’s increase.
On a “core” basis, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, CPI is expected to have risen 2.9% over the past year in May, a slight acceleration from April’s 2.8%. Monthly core price increases are anticipated to rise 0.3%, ahead of April’s 0.2%.
The report reflects the time period about a month after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements shook markets and businesses. Since then, many of those “reciprocal” tariffs have been paused, but the 10% baseline duties for most countries remain in place. …
“May’s CPI report will be an important test of the speed and magnitude to which higher tariff rates are being passed along to the consumer,” said the Wells Fargo economics team, led by Sarah House, in a preview note.
Read more here.
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Gold prices are edging higher even after the US and China talks delivered a plan to ease trade tensions, a sign the market is not yet convinced of a breakthrough.
Futures rose 0.7% to around $3,366 an ounce in early trading on Wednesday.
Bloomberg reported:
