S&P 500 Nears All-Time High Amid U.S.-China Trade Talks
The S&P 500 edged closer to its record peak, hovering just 2% below the all-time high of $6,147.43 as U.S.-China trade negotiations entered a second day in London. Treasury and Commerce officials signaled Optimism but withheld specifics, leaving markets attuned to incremental progress.
Export controls dominated discussions, with Washington seeking increased rare earth element flows—critical for electronics manufacturing—in exchange for easing semiconductor and aerospace component restrictions. The U.S. goods trade deficit with China narrowed to $88.02 billion year-to-date, down sharply from 2024''s $295.51 billion gap.