Investing.com - U.S. stock futures soar following the unveiling of a substantial lowering in tariffs between the U.S. and China. The deal helps to underpin optimism for a softening in a recent trade spat between the world’s two largest economy that has threatened the outlook for global growth. Meanwhile, investors are looking ahead to key U.S. inflation data this week and pharmaceutical stocks tumble as President Donald Trump says he will sign an executive order aimed at reducing domestic drug prices.
1. Futures jump on U.S.-China trade agreement
U.S. stock futures climbed on Monday on an announcement that the U.S. and China had agreed to substantially lower their sweeping tariffs on each other.
By 04:37 ET (08:37 GMT), the Dow futures contract had added 785 points, or 1.9%, S&P 500 futures had gained 142 points, or 2.5%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had increased by 689 points, or 3.4%.
The main averages on Wall Street were relatively subdued on Friday, ahead of the start of crucial trade meetings in Switzerland between officials from the U.S. and China. The indices ended marginally lower for the week.
2. U.S., China to significantly lower tariffs
The U.S. and China have agreed to a 90-day pause to soaring tariffs placed on each other, Washington has moved to slash tariffs on China to 30% and Beijing’s duties on U.S. imports are being cut to 10%, the nations said in a rare joint statement following high-stakes trade talks over the weekend.
Heading into the negotiations, Trump had raised tariffs on China to at least 145%, leading Beijing to respond with retaliatory levies on American imports of 125%.
"The consensus from both delegations is that neither side wanted a decoupling," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news conference.
More trade negotiations are planned between the two, while both sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues.
Investors, who have been worried that the trade tensions may spiral into a global crisis that could threaten economic activity and increase uncertainty for businesses, have appeared to welcome the changes.
3. CPI ahead this week
Headlining the economic calendar this week will be a fresh monthly reading of consumer prices in the U.S., which could shed some light on the impact of recent trade tensions.
The Department of Labor’s consumer price index for April is seen coming in at 2.4%, matching March’s level.
Many economists have warned that Trump’s tariff policies could refuel inflationary pressures in the U.S., while recent consumer surveys have indicated that household are bracing for greater price gains in the months ahead.
Early last month, Trump unveiled punishing tariffs on a host of countries, arguing that the levies were necessary to correct perceived trade imbalances, bolster government revenues and reshore manufacturing jobs lost overseas. Trump later partially delayed most of these tariffs in the wake of deep ructions in stock and bond markets.
4. Pharma stocks slip on Trump drug price cut plan
Pharmaceutical stocks tumbled Monday after Trump announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the United States by between 30%-80%.
In Europe, shares in Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO), AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN), GSK and Roche all slipped, mirroring declines in several Asian peers.
The policy, known as "most favored nation" pricing, would align U.S. drug costs with those of other high-income countries, Trump said in a social media post on Sunday.
This could potentially impact the profitability of European and Asian drugmakers heavily reliant on the U.S. market, where consumers currently pay almost three times more for many prescription drugs than other wealthy nations.
5. Oil jumps
Oil prices rose Monday, building on last week’s sharp gains as the announcement of a China-U.S. trade deal raised hopes that the world’s two largest crude users may be moving toward a resolution of their dispute.
At 08:00 ET, Brent futures climbed 2.5% to $65.52 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2.6% to $62.62 a barrel.
Both contracts rose by more than 4% last week on optimism over a potential de-escalation in Trump’s tariff agenda.
Elsewhere, the U.S. dollar gained and the Chinese yuan strengthened. Gold prices dropped, potentially signaling that the progress in trade talks had taken some of the gleam off of the traditional safe-haven asset.