Trump, Xi Meet on S&P 500's Best Day Since Early August: Will Markets Stay Bullish?

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in Washington this week for their second summit of the year. The meeting came at a time where Wall Street suddenly turned bullish.

The visit aims to shore up a fragile trade truce as artificial intelligence, tariffs, and Iran sanctions complicate the agenda. The outcome of the meeting is being closely watched by the markets for any more positive signs to bolster the burgeoning rally.

Markets React

Wall Street rallied Monday as AI-linked stocks led gains ahead of the summit.

The S&P 500 climbed 1.5% to post its best day since Aug. 4. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.3% for its first record close since June.

S&P 500 had its best day since August 4. Image Source: Trading View

Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, and Qualcomm all posted double-digit percentage gains.

Oil prices fell more than 4%, and Treasury yields eased. Middle East tensions had pushed both higher in prior sessions.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates last week for the first time in three years. Analysts pointed to persistent energy prices as a key inflation risk.

What’s Happened Between China and US Before?

A one-year truce reached in Busan, South Korea, expires Nov. 10, a week after the US election. Analysts expect a modest extension rather than a breakthrough deal this week.

Tariffs on both sides remain elevated despite last year’s de-escalation.

The effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods sits near 23%. That is among the highest levels charged to any major trading partner, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

Under the Busan deal, China agreed to suspend rare earth export controls and buy US farm products. Washington eased some tariffs in return.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday the truce would likely hold. He pointed to progress on a proposed reciprocal tariff cut covering non-critical goods.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a central flashpoint in the talks. Trump has pushed for unrestrained AI infrastructure growth. He wrote in a Truth Social post that the US is winning the artificial intelligence race.

“WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so.”Trump, Truth Social

Bessent said the two countries discussed a dialogue to notify each other of AI-related incidents.

What to Watch

Iran sanctions loom over the talks. Washington has targeted Tehran’s financial enablers, putting China, Iran’s largest trading partner, in the spotlight.

Bessent said the two governments discussed the sanctions program over the weekend. No direct action against Beijing has been announced.

Bank of America Global Research analysts see a full one-year truce extension as the base case. They also flagged potential Chinese purchases of additional Boeing aircraft.

Deeper concessions on semiconductor access or export controls appear unlikely, the same analysts said.

With the truce set to lapse just after the US election, this week’s outcome carries weight. It will help shape market direction into year-end for AI-exposed equities and energy prices.