US Equities struggled for traction on Tuesday as investors weighed President Trump’s tariff threats against hopes for further negotiations. The S&P 500 hovered near the flat line, the Dow was down over 100 points, and the Nasdaq 100 ticked up 0.2%, following Monday’s steep sell-off. Trump reiterated that the new 25% to 40% tariffs on 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, would take effect August 1, despite previously suggesting the deadline could shift. The conflicting signals added to investor uncertainty, with many holding out hope that upcoming talks might avert a broader trade conflict. Meanwhile, sectors such as energy gained, while banks and solar stocks weighed on broader performance. In corporate news, Nvidia (+1%) inched closer to a $4 trillion valuation, while Amazon (-1.4%) fell as Prime Day kicked off. Markets also looked ahead to the Fed's June meeting minutes and the unofficial start of earnings season later in the week.