* Futures off: Dow 0.17%, S&P 0.18%, Nasdaq 0.22%
By Arjun Panchadar
Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday
as trade tensions resurfaced after China rebuked President
Donald Trump's decision to ratify a bill backing protesters in
Hong Kong.
The legislation knocked global stocks off near-record highs
on Thursday, when U.S. markets were closed for Thanksgiving Day.
Wall Street has notched all-time closing highs in every
session so far this week on upbeat domestic data and hopes of an
imminent "phase one" trade deal.
But sentiment dulled after China said on Thursday it would
take "firm counter measures" if the United States continues to
interfere in Hong Kong.
These could include barring drafters of the legislation from
mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the editor of China's
state-backed Global Times tabloid said in a tweet. The tariff war between the world's top two economies has
dented business sentiment and become the biggest risk to global
growth. The next round of U.S. tariffs is due to take effect on
Dec. 15 on Chinese goods including Christmas decorations.
U.S.-listed Chinese stocks were trading lower before the
opening bell, while trade-sensitive chipmakers including Micron
Technology Inc MU.O and Nvidia Corp NVDA.O dipped between
0.4% and 0.7%.
At 7:11 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis 1YMcv1 were down 48 points,
or 0.17%. S&P 500 e-minis EScv1 were down 5.75 points, or
0.18% and Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQcv1 were down 18.75 points, or
0.22%.
Trading volumes are expected to be light as the stock market
closes early on Friday.
Shares of PG&E Corp PCG.N fell 18.4% after a report that
U.S. bankruptcy judge Dennis Montali sided with wildfire
victims, who said the company was subject to a doctrine known as
"inverse condemnation" that holds utilities strictly liable for
covering the costs of wildfires. Bionano Genomics Inc BNGO.O was down 4.5% after the
company disclosed that Chief Financial Officer Mike Ward would
leave. In a bright spot, Tech Data Corp TECD.O jumped nearly 13%
as private equity firm Apollo Global Management APO.N raised
its bid for the U.S. information technology equipment
distributor to about $5.14 billion.