US stock futures inched lower on Wednesday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the latest Consumer Price Index report, which may offer insights into the economic impact of recent tariffs. Market participants also looked for further clarity on US–China trade negotiations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said talks were going “really, really well,” suggesting discussions could continue into Wednesday if necessary. In regular trading on Tuesday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose 0.55% and 0.63%, respectively, for their third straight positive session. The Dow also gained 0.25%. Gains were broad-based, with 10 of the 11 S&P 500 sectors finishing higher, led by energy, consumer discretionary, and healthcare. Technology stocks also outperformed, driven by notable moves from Tesla (+5.7%), Meta Platforms (+1.2%), and Alphabet (+1.3%). Looking ahead, earnings results from Chewy and Oracle are due later Wednesday.