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Futures: Dow down 0.1%, S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 0.2% each

Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures started

December lower after recording robust gains last month, with

focus on a slate of economic data later this week, including a

jobs report, to gauge the Federal Reserve's interest rate path.

This week's centerpiece would be the November nonfarm

payrolls report due on Friday, a key metric in also gauging the

state of the labor market.

Traders currently see a more than 61% chance of the Fed

opting for a 25-basis-point rate cut when it meets later this

month, compared to a near 83% chance seen a month prior, as per

CME's FedWatch Tool.

An October jobs opening reading is slated to be released on

Tuesday, while November private payrolls data is due on

Wednesday.

The S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow clocked

record closing highs on Friday, capping off a stellar November

for U.S. equities.

Investors relished in U.S. stocks last month after

Republican candidate Donald Trump recaptured the White House

along with his party sweeping both houses of Congress.

Trump's policies on tax cuts, tariffs and deregulation could

spur greater corporate performance. However, concerns that his

policies could bump up inflation have also led to markets

dialing back hopes of the Fed ramping up its rate easing cycle.

The week is also packed with data that could indicate how

the economy is faring, including multiple surveys of economic

activity for the last month.

November manufacturing activity surveys from S&P Global and

the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) are due later in the

day.

A slate of Fed speakers will also make public appearances

this week including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, with investors

hunting for any clues on the central bank's policy path.

Comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller and New York

Fed President John Williams would be on the radar later in the

day.

On the day, most megacap and growth stocks were slightly

lower, with Nvidia's ( NVDA ) 1.6% fall leading losses. Tesla

, on the other hand, outperformed with a 1.7% advance.

At 5:06 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 54 points,

or 0.12%, S&P 500 E-minis were down 12.75 points, or

0.21%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 48.5 points, or

0.23%.

Among other early premarket movers, Gap rose 3.5%

after J.P. Morgan upgraded the apparel retailer's rating to

"overweight" from "neutral".