US stocks hold steady as trade talks with China begin

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are drifting as the world's two largest economies begin talks on trade that could help avoid a recession. The S&P 500 was little changed in early trading Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 79 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.1%. Officials from the U.S. and China are meeting in London to talk about a range of disputes. Hopes that President Donald Trump will lower his tariffs after reaching trade deals with countries around the world have helped send the S&P 500 surging in recent weeks. Warner Bros. Discovery jumped…