U.S. stock futures are lower after major stock indexes eked out a gain on the first trading day of the month despite rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

“It appears the market took solace in the White House signaling that President (Donald) Trump and Xi Jinping would talk this week,” said Mike O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

At 6:20 A.M. ET, futures linked to the blue-chip Dow fell -0.40%, while broad S&P 500 index futures dropped -0.45% and tech-heavy Nasdaq futures slipped -0.44%.

Before the bell Dollar General, Signet Jewelers and Nio are set to report earnings.

Stocks to watch include:

• EchoStar said it won’t make about $183 million in cash interest payments on a series of Dish’s notes. The non-payment was made in light of recent uncertainty raised by the Federal Communications Commission, it said.

• Pegasystem raised its full-year outlook above analysts’ forecasts.

• Credo Technology’s results in the last three months of its fiscal year beat analysts’ forecasts.

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US stock futures slip amid US-China trade tensions