Wall Street Futures Flat as Investors Eye Middle East Talks, US-China Summit

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on September 23, 2026, as investors awaited the outcome of Middle East peace negotiations and a high-stakes U.S.-China summit scheduled for September 24. Crude prices held below $100 a barrel after Saudi Arabia restarted operations at a critical pipeline, easing energy supply concerns. At 07:09 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 22 points (0.04%), S&P 500 E-minis rose 1.25 points (0.02%), and Nasdaq 100 E-minis fell 33 points (0.11%). Chinese President Xi Jinping was expected in Washington later on September 23 for a state visit covering an extension of last year's trade truce, AI regulation and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. He was also due to meet executives from General Motors, Meta, Apple, Amazon and Tesla. Traders priced a 50% chance of at least a 25-basis-point rate hike next month, per CME FedWatch. S&P Global's September PMI data and remarks from Fed Governor Michael Barr were due later.