SM8 Smart Marine Systems Limited

By Barbara Kollmeyer, MarketWatch

Deere, Campbell Soup earnings ahead

U.S. stock futures were indicating a modestly higher start for Wall Street on Friday, with investors keeping a close eye on headlines coming out of trade talks between the U.S. and China, as well as persistently higher bond yields.

What are markets doing?

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 22 points to 24,724, while S&P 500 futures (SM8.AU) rose 2.6 points to 2,721.50. Nasdaq-100 futures climbed 12.75 points, or 0.2%, to 6,919.

On Thursday, the Dow slipped 54.95 points, or 0.2%, to 24,713.98, the S&P 500 index shed less than 0.1% to 2,720.13, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 0.2% to 7,382.47.

Need to know:Stock-market bears look declawed after small-caps soar to a record (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-market-bears-look-declawed-after-small-caps-soar-to-a-record-2018-05-17)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/stock-market-bears-look-declawed-after-small-caps-soar-to-a-record-2018-05-17)Meanwhile, the small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 index rose 0.6% on the day, scoring its second straight closing record at 1,625.29.

As of Thursday's close, the Dow was set to drop 0.5% for the week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq looking at losses of 0.3% each.

What's driving the market?

Trade talks between the U.S. and China in Washington will likely command attention. A China official on Friday denied an offer had been made to cut its trade surplus with the U.S. by $200 billion. A variety of news outlets reported that an offer had been made on Thursday. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/beijing-proposes-cutting-trade-deficit-with-us-by-200-billion-reports-2018-05-18) That comes amid doubts over the success of those talks, given that U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Beijing had become too "spoiled" and he had lowered his expectations for negotiations. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-slip-as-bond-yields-remain-elevated-2018-05-17)

Meanwhile, lawmakers from both sides of Congress were poised to push forward a bill that would give the U.S. greater powers to block deals (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/congress-set-to-advance-bill-easing-ability-to-block-chinese-acquisitions-of-us-firms-2018-05-17) between U.S. and Chinese companies that could pose a risk to national security.

Higher yields will also stay in focus, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note hovering at a near 7-year peak above 3.1%. The psychologically important level of 3% comes with the idea for some that equities could become less attractive. The yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond has hit the highest level since June 2015. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-treasury-yields-steady-near-7-year-high-2018-05-17)

(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-treasury-yields-steady-near-7-year-high-2018-05-17)The economic calendar is largely empty outside of first-quarter data on advance services due at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Fed Governor Lael Brainard is scheduled to speak at the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development's 8th annual conference at 9:15 a.m. Eastern.

What were strategists saying?

The last session of the week is shaping up to be a positive one, noted Konstantinos Anthis, head of research at ADS Securities, in a note to clients.

"However, we should highlight that with yields still above 3% and concerns for a potential breakdown of U.S.-China negotiations the risk for equities is to the downside. The combination of expensive financing and a dampening of risk appetite lurks around the corner so caution is advised and the focus for equity traders should be on the short-term," Anthis added.

What stocks are in focus?

(1786.HK)(1786.HK)Deere & Co.(DE) and Campbell Soup Co.(CPB) are due to report ahead of the open.

AmTrust Financial Services Inc.(AFSI) shares could be active after news activist investor Carl Icahn has contested an attempt by the company's owners to take it private (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/icahn-contests-bid-to-take-amtrust-private-sending-shares-surging-2018-05-17).

Shares of drugmakers Amgen Inc.(AMGN) and Novartis AG(NOVN.EB) (NOVN.EB) rose in after-hours trading after jointly announcing FDA approval of a first-of-its kind treatment for migraines (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fda-approves-anti-migraine-drug-from-novartis-amgen-2018-05-17).

What are other markets doing?

Asian markets finished mixed (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-muted-on-lower-expectations-for-us-china-trade-talks-2018-05-17), with most indexes modestly lower for the week. European stocks opened mostly lower.

Gold futures drifted lower, while the ICE U.S. Dollar Index was flat. Oil futures moved up to $71.63 a barrel, with Brent just under $80 a barrel.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 18, 2018 05:49 ET (09:49 GMT)

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