Wall Street digested the latest signs President Trump's trade war could be entering a more conciliatory phase.

Wall Street pointed modestly higher before the opening bell as investors pored over the latest corporate earnings ahead of weekend trade talks between China and the U.S. Markets initially seemed indifferent to what appeared to be a de-escalation of the U.

American and Chinese officials have started talks in Switzerland to de-escalate a trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies that has global implications. There is hope that the countries can scale back the tariffs they have slapped on each other's goods,