US Stock Market Today | Dow Jones | Nasdaq Live: S&P 500, Nasdaq open lower after April inflation data; Mideast in focus

Investors expect U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to keep trade tensions on the backburner during their Beijing meeting, with markets focused instead on artificial intelligence and potential easing of U.S. chip export curbs. Chinese equities and the yuan have rallied, reflecting confidence in export strength and AI-driven demand.

Despite risks from geopolitical flashpoints such as Iran, Taiwan and rare earths, fund managers are positioning for China’s AI self-sufficiency push. Markets are closely watching for any signals on chip access, with investors seeing the sector as the primary driver of sentiment, rather than trade rhetoric. Read more