London (CNN Business) 1. Retailers report: Another round of retail earnings is keeping the US-China trade war front of mind for investors.

Retailers includingandreport earnings from the first three months of the year on Wednesday. Both are expected to post results before the US market open.

Major retailers have developed strategies to blunt the impact of tariffs so far. But they're starting to warn that the trade war is affecting business.

andall said that the tariffs have forced them to either alter their financial outlooks, remodel carefully crafted supply chains or consider raising price tags for customers.

2. Markets slide: US stock futures were pointing lower on Wednesday after a rough start to the week.

The Dow is set to open down 148 points, or 0.6%. The Nasdaq could drop 0.8% and the S&P 500 is poised to fall 0.6%.

3. Exxon meeting: ExxonMobil is bracing for stiff opposition at Wednesday's annual shareholder meeting from activists and shareholders upset with the oil giant's stance on climate change.

Significant attention will be paid to a shareholder proposal that calls for Exxon to install an independent board chairman during its next CEO transition. Exxon opposes the measure, but the structural change has support from key shareholders including the Church of England's endowment fund and the New York state pension fund.

A key source of tension: Exxon's successfully lobbied the SEC to block a separate resolution they proposed that would have urged the company to adopt and disclose greenhouse gas emissions targets.