US stock futures edge down ahead of econ reports

(AP) Wall Street futures are down slightly amid uncertainty over what authorities in the U.S., China and Europe might do to help the slowing world economy.

Dow Jones industrial futures are down 3 points to 13,076 as U.S. stocks return from the Labor Day weekend. The broader S&P 500 futures are down 1 point to 1,404. Nasdaq futures are down 2 points at 2,770.

The subdued futures come ahead of reports on August manufacturing activity and July construction spending. Both reports are due out at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

In Europe, Moody's warned that it could downgrade the credit rating of the European Union as a whole, citing the mounting strain of the continent's debt crisis. That sent European markets mostly lower. Asian markets also fell.