US pre-open: Futures have stocks opening flat as trade war remains in focus
Wall Street futures had stocks opening broadly flat on Tuesday following a rally during the previous session that was driven by comments made by Donald Trump while attending the G-7 meeting in France.
As of 1200 BST, Dow futures had the index opening 0.01% lower, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices starting out the session 0.02% and 0.07% firmer, respectively.
The Dow Jones closed 270.94 points stronger on Monday after Donald Trump told reporters at Monday's G-7 meeting in France that both countries were ready to start talking very seriously following contacts by phone between the two global superpowers a day earlier.
With comments from the world's two largest economies indicating a potential de-escalation in recent tensions, investors will likely have their eyes and ears peeled for more updates regarding the most likely course for US-China trade talks moving forwards.
Oanda's Craig Erlam said: "It's been a rollercoaster ride of trade war sentiment over the last few months and it seems traders have now entered into a state of confusion at where things actually currently stand.
"A sudden and significant escalation in the trade war last week came as China and the US both announced new tariffs - well, an increase in the case of the latter - triggering another plunge in stock markets as investors fled for safety."
Erlam also noted how the latest less aggressive tone out of the US administration had been followed by mixed messages from the president, who initially admitted to having second thoughts, but which the White House later clarified meant he lamented "not being more aggressive".
"There's also been mixed messages about an apparent call over talks between the two countries, which suggests all is not as positive as Trump would have us believe," added Erlam.
On the data front, June's house price index will be released at 1400 BST, while August's Richmond Fed manufacturing index and this month's consumer confidence index will follow at 1500 BST.
In corporate news, H&R Block, Regis and PureTech Health will all post their latest quarterly results throughout the course of the day.