One expert said he expected loosened controls on U.S. exports of semiconductors in exchange for China's releasing of more rare earths.

U.S. stock futures and most European stock markets were near flat and Asian indexes ended mixed as investors await result of the U.S.-China trade talks.

(Reuters) -U.S. stock index futures were subdued on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of a second day of trade talks between the United States and China aimed at cooling a tariff dispute that has bruised global markets this year.