The major indices on Wall Street began trading on Monday with a slight rise, as investors anticipate a new round of trade negotiations between the United States and China aimed at resolving the disputes that have shaken financial markets this year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 23.3 points, or 0.05 percent, to reach 42,786.19 points.
The S&P 500 Index rose by 4.3 points, or 0.07 percent, to 6,004.63 points.
The NASDAQ Composite Index increased by 43.2 points, or 0.22 percent, reaching 19,573.138 points.
Cautious optimism about trade talks
Investors hope that the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Beijing will yield tangible progress that contributes to easing trade tensions, which could bolster confidence in the markets and drive indices to further gains.
The discussions come after a phone call on Thursday between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, just ahead of a meeting between officials from both countries in London, which is seen as an opportunity to ease trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
Analysts believe that a trade agreement between the two countries could revive the global economy and, in turn, support demand for essential goods, led by oil.
On the other hand, economic data showed that Chinese export growth slowed in May to its lowest level in three months, due to the impact of U.S. tariffs.
The contraction in factory prices has also worsened to its lowest level in two years, increasing pressure on the world's second-largest economy.
