Breaking: U.S.-China Trade Talks Ignite Stock Futures – Get Live Updates Here!

On April 29, 2025, traders were active on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Stock futures were on the rise as investors kept an eye on U.S. trade talks and awaited a key announcement from the Federal Reserve regarding interest rates.

The Dow Jones futures gained 292 points, or 0.7%. Similarly, S&P 500 futures saw an increase of 0.8%, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose by 1%. The boost in stock futures came after news broke that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and trade representative Jamieson Greer would meet with Chinese officials soon in Switzerland. This is seen as a hopeful sign amid the recent challenges following President Trump’s tariff announcements.

As the markets anticipated the Fed’s interest rate decision set for 2 p.m. ET, there was a high expectation—about 97%—that rates would remain steady, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. Investors were particularly interested in what Fed Chair Jerome Powell would say during the press conference after the decision. Recently, Powell faced criticism from Trump, who suggested he might want to replace him, although he later clarified he had no such intention.

Concerns were mounting that Trump’s tariff strategy might drive inflation higher. This uncertainty added to worries about the U.S. economy potentially slipping into recession, making market participants anxious.

Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie, warned, “If traders think the Fed will simply dive in to ease these concerns, they might be mistaken.” With such high stakes, the market reacted to economic data, including upcoming consumer credit figures and corporate earnings from companies like Disney, Carvana, and Uber.

On Tuesday, Wall Street was down, with the Dow falling nearly 390 points (about 1%). The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both decreased by around 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively. Recent trends show that traders are not just focused on economic policies; they are also watching social media and public sentiment to gauge market reactions. Analyst trends on platforms like Twitter suggest that nervousness about inflation and interest rates is widespread among investors.

In a historical comparison, market reactions to interest rate changes today mirror past economic uncertainties, such as those seen during the 2008 financial crisis. As we navigate today’s challenges, understanding these patterns can provide insight into potential market movements.

For more insights on financial trends, you can check the CME FedWatch Tool.