5 things to know before the stock market opens September 9, 2019

Dow and the S&P 500 futures pointed to a higher Monday opening on Wall Street, contributing to two straight-week gains. With August, the second down in the year, in the rearview mirror, the Dow stands roughly 2% away from its July highs. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were 1[ads1].6% and 2.8% respectively of their record highs in July. Apart from volatility over the US-China trade war, investors are looking forward to Thursday's European Central Bank meeting and next week's meeting of Federal Reserve politicians. Simpler monetary measures are expected from both central banks.

Bond yields moved higher Monday morning, contributing to a September rebound on optimism about next month's US-China trade talks. In an era of marketing tweets from President Donald Trump, largely about China trade and the Federal Reserve lately, J.P. Morgan an index to track the effect of Trump's tweets on the bond market. The bank said the index found a measurable fraction of the movements in implied interest rate volatility for 2-year and 5-year Treasurys. J.P. Morgan officials behind the index said such dynamics make sense since the president has pushed the Fed to cut interest rates again as the US-China trade war puts pressure on the global economy.

China's exports dropped unexpectedly in August as shipments to the US slowed sharply, pointing to further weakness in the world's second-largest economy and underlining an urgent need for more stimulation as trade tensions escalate. Beijing is widely expected to announce several support measures over the coming weeks to mitigate the risk of a sharp economic downturn as the United States increases customs pressure. On Friday, China's central bank reduced so-called bank reserve requirements for a seventh time since early 2018 to release more funds for lending.

Apple, a day ahead of its annual iPhone launch, cites a report alleging the US technology giant and its manufacturing partner Foxconn violated a Chinese labor law stating that temporary employment cannot exceed 10 % of total workforce. "We have looked at the claims made by China Labor Watch, and most of the allegations are false," Apple said in a statement. Foxconn confirmed that a review of Zhengzhou's business "identified some problems with the workforce compliance." Apple did not disclose which of the allegations may be true.

J.P. Morgan Chase is close to winning the lead advisory role for the initial public offering for Saudi Aramco, the world's most profitable company, and throws out competitors for the plum assignment, people with knowledge of the situation told CNBC's Hugh Son. A final decision is expected next week and may still change, the people said. Morgan Stanley, who had been a jockey with J.P. Morgan for top billing of the deal, was harmed by the work that led the Uber IPO, according to these people. Saudi officials, who are major owners of Uber through the country's sovereign wealth fund, became dissatisfied with Morgan Stanley after their bankers misjudged demand for the giant-giant giant's stock in May.