FX.co ★ US Futures Edge Lower as Investors Await New Catalysts

U.S. stock futures edged down slightly on Monday as investors sought new catalysts at the onset of a fresh trading month. This minor decline comes on the heels of a robust May, during which the S&P 500 rose by 6.15%, marking its most substantial monthly increase since November 2023. Both the Dow and the Nasdaq Composite also achieved significant gains, advancing by 3.94% and 9.56%, respectively. Market enthusiasm in May was bolstered by solid U.S. economic data and corporate earnings that exceeded expectations, despite ongoing challenges arising from tariff-related issues. Investor confidence faced additional tests due to legal developments in trade policy, notably when a federal court initially struck down President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, only for an appellate court to temporarily sustain them. Furthermore, economic advisor Kevin Hassett suggested the possibility of trade discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping potentially taking place as early as this week, following allegations by Trump that China breached the terms of a recent trade agreement.