US equity investors will focus on headlines from the Trump administration on punitive import duties, especially in relation to China, as well as quarterly earnings from index heavyweights and developments around the independence of the Federal Reserve.

* The US is engaged in trade talks with several countries, including the UK and Japan. China on Monday warned other countries against making trade deals with the US that could be to its detriment, The Independent reported. "If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner," the news report cited a statement from China's Commerce Ministry.

* Washington will host this week the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, according to a Scotiabank note late Thursday. "No doubt at the top of the list will be tariffs and a potentially serious risk to Fed independence and US markets as the Supreme Court is expected to rule on Trump v. Wilcox before breaking for summer recess."

* Gold futures were up 2.1% to $3,397.11 per ounce early on Monday, after hitting a new record high of $3,407.30 in the Asian trading session. The ICE US Dollar Index slumped 1.3% to 98.11, its lowest in about three years.

* Quarterly earnings expected this week include Tesla (TSLA), Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG), and IBM (IBM).

* Macroeconomic data due this week includes the purchasing managers' indexes and durable goods orders. "Watch for anecdotes on supply chain challenges as well as subcomponents on orders, prices, and hiring plans," the Scotiabank note said, adding that the durable goods "should get a solid lift from Boeing (BA) orders and maybe tariff front-running such as in autos, but key will be how core capital goods orders ex-defence and air hold up."

* The Treasury will auction two-year, five-year, and seven-year notes, according to a Dow Jones report published by Morningstar.