US STOCKS-Futures dip after mixed signals on U.S.-China trade

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* Futures off: Dow 0.09%, S&P 500 0.10%, Nasdaq 0.14%

By Shreyashi Sanyal
Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were slightly
lower on Thursday, as mixed signals on trade and a row between
Washington and Beijing over the Hong Kong protests fanned
concerns about the timing of a deal to end their prolonged
tariff dispute.
A report on Thursday said China had invited top U.S. trade
negotiators for a new round of face-to-face talks in Beijing,
soothing investor nerves after Reuters reported on Wednesday
that the trade deal could slide into next year. A U.S. bill in support of Hong Kong, which President Donald
Trump is expected to sign into law, also dulled the mood as
China vowed strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and
security. Wall Street ended the previous session in the red after a
record run in recent weeks on an upbeat earnings season and
expectations of the trade agreement, which Trump had said last
month could be signed by mid-November.
Semiconductor companies that have a sizeable revenue
exposure to China fell premarket, with Intel Corp INTC.O
logging the biggest drop among the few Dow Jones components
active before the bell.
Apple Inc AAPL.O , on the other hand, edged up 0.4%, as
Trump said he was considering whether to exempt the iPhone maker
from tariffs on imports from China. The next round of tariffs are due on Dec. 15 on Chinese
goods, including holiday gift items such as electronics and
Christmas decorations.
At 7:27 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis 1YMcv1 were down 26 points,
or 0.09%. S&P 500 e-minis EScv1 were down 3 points, or 0.10%
and Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQcv1 were down 11.25 points, or 0.14%.
Macy's Inc M.N slipped 5.9% after the department store
operator cut its full-year profit forecast blaming falling
tourist numbers and weak mall traffic. With the third-quarter earnings season drawing to a close,
focus is now shifting to M&A activity in corporate America.
Shares in TD Ameritrade Holding Corp AMTD.O jumped 25%
after CNBC reported bigger rival Charles Schwab Corp SCHW.N
was in talks to buy the discount brokerage. Schwab shares gained
10.7%. Tiffany & Co TIF.N gained 3.8% as Reuters reported LVMH
LVMH.PA persuaded the jewelry chain to allow it to access its
books after the French luxury group raised its bid to about $16
billion.
Applied Materials Inc AMAT.O slipped 3.6% after UBS
downgraded shares of the chip gear maker to "sell".