#USChinaTradeTalks Trade talk between the U.S. and China is boosting markets, but investors are really waiting for Fed Chair Powell to speak

Trade talk between the U.S. and China is boosting markets, but investors are really waiting for Fed Chair Powell to speak

BY Ian Mount

May 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM EDT

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent walks to his seat ahead of his testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, on May 6, 2025 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent walks to his seat ahead of his testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, on May 6, 2025 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Tom Brenner—The Washington Post via Getty Images

The S&P 500 sank 0.8% yesterday, taking it down 4.7% YTD, while S&P futures were up 0.6% this morning, premarket. The U.S. government said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would travel to Switzerland to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s lead economic representative. Investors took hope from the prospect of negotiations between the world’s two biggest economic powers, but their eyes were pinned on Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Markets in Asia rose on the news that the U.S. and China hadn’t begun negotiations over the trade-blockade-like 100%+ tariffs they’ve put on one another—but are about to. The Trump administration said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would travel to Switzerland on Thursday, where they’re scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s lead economic representative, for meetings that will take place between May 9 and 12.