S&P 500 Inches Higher as Trump Signals Openness to Trade Talks

The S&P 500 edged up Monday as investor sentiment improved following President Donald Trump's remarks suggesting openness to global trade negotiations. Trump said his administration is “always open to talk,” including with the European Union, easing fears of an imminent trade war. His comments came after sending letters proposing tariffs—including a 30% levy on goods from Mexico and the EU—but he described them as “opportunities for deals.”

At market close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 88 points (0.2%), the S&P 500 gained 0.1%, and the NASDAQ added 0.3%, ending at a record high of 20,640.33.

Investors are watching closely as the August 1 deadline looms for the expiration of the current tariff pause. Customs duty collections reached a record $113.3 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent projecting it could rise to $300 billion by year-end.

This week also marks the start of the U.S. corporate earnings season, with major banks like JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo set to report. Additional earnings from Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and 3M are also expected. Fastenal shares climbed after the company beat Q2 estimates.

Market attention will shift Tuesday to the June Consumer Price Index (CPI), a key indicator for Federal Reserve policy. The CPI is forecast to rise 0.3% month-over-month and 2.6% annually. The Fed held rates steady in June, but futures suggest a possible rate cut in September.

Meanwhile, crypto-related stocks soared as Bitcoin surged past $123,000. Shares of Coinbase, Marathon Digital, and MicroStrategy posted strong gains, boosted by rising ETF inflows and optimism over favorable U.S. regulation.