CTRP - Stock Futures Climb on Renewed Trade Optimism

U.S. stocks were set to open slightly higher Monday amid increasing optimism around U.S.-China trade relations.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 69.31 points, or 0.3%, early Monday to 26,797.46

Futures for the S&P 500 picked up 2.71 points, or 0.1%, at 2,978.71

NASDAQ Composite futures dipped 13.75 points, or 0.2%, to 8,103.07

The S&P 500 was also about 1.6% from its record high set in late July. The Dow and Nasdaq Composite entered the session more than 2% from their all-time highs.

Bank shares rose in the pre-market. Wells Fargo gathered 0.4% and J.P. Morgan Chase climbed 0.6%. Citigroup advanced 0.6% while Bank of America gained 0.7%.

Ctrip.com International and Lakeland Industries are among the companies reporting earnings Monday.

On the data front, there will be new consumer credit figures out at 3 p.m. ET.

China offered last week to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products if the U.S. eased restrictions on telecom giant Huawei, Politico reported on Friday. China's offer could also be contingent on the U.S. delaying higher tariffs on about $250 billion worth of Chinese imports

New data out of China showed that exports unexpectedly fell in August with a large contraction for shipments to the United States. The drop indicates further weakness in the world's second largest economy and puts further pressure on Chinese lawmakers to announce new economic stimulus.

Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 surged 0.6% Monday, while in the Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index faltered more than nine points

Oil prices gained 25 cents to $56.77 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices increased $4.90 to $1,520.40 U.S. an ounce.