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Futures: Dow up 0.19%, S&P 500 up 0.06%, Nasdaq down 0.07%

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Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) up on sale of Family Dollar business

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GameStop ( GME ) climbs on bitcoin bet, higher Q4 profit

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Barclays cuts S&P 500 2025 target

(Updates before markets open)

By Pranav Kashyap and Johann M Cherian

March 26 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes were

poised for a restrained open on Wednesday, with investors

exercising caution as they awaited economic data and more

clarity on the Trump administration's fresh tariffs that are

expected to take effect next week.

U.S. equities experienced a brief reprieve over the last two

sessions, following President Donald Trump's indication that not

all tariffs would be enforced by the April 2 deadline, with

certain nations potentially being granted exemptions-though

specifics remain elusive.

This offered a semblance of stability to Wall Street, with

the trio of major indexes closing on Tuesday at their highest in

over two weeks.

Nevertheless, ambiguity surrounding the magnitude of U.S.

tariffs, the likelihood of retaliatory measures from trading

partners, and apprehensions regarding the potential

repercussions on the global economy and businesses have left

investors in a state of heightened vigilance.

"Market is in a wait and watch mode for tariff

announcements. If tariffs are not as bad as feared, it could

serve as a clearing event and be positive for risky assets,"

Jefferies' economist Mohit Kumar said in a note.

Tuesday's data revealed a sharp decline in U.S. consumer

confidence in March - its lowest in over four years -

highlighting the prevailing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and

its impact on American households.

The economic instability is projected to also impact the

labor market, with analysts emphasizing that investment banks

are bracing for further job cuts amid waning prospects for new

deals in the coming months.

In recent weeks, investors have been divesting U.S. equities

in favor of alternative opportunities, wary that Trump's tariffs

could ignite inflationary pressures and hamper economic

expansion.

Both the benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-centric

Nasdaq tumbled 10% from their respective record highs

earlier this month-a phenomenon known as a correction. The S&P

has ascended over 4% since its mid-March lows, while the Nasdaq

has advanced roughly 6%.

Adding to the unease, Barclays revised its S&P 500 target

downward to 5,900 points from 6,600 due to uncertainty

surrounding Trump's tariffs.

At 8:48 a.m. ET, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis

were up 3.5 points, or 0.06%, with 121,169 contracts changing

hands. Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 14.75 points,

or 0.07%, while Dow E-minis were up 81 points,

or 0.19%.

The main focus of this week will be the personal consumption

expenditures price index - the Federal Reserve's favored

inflation gauge - due on Friday.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said that it may take

longer than anticipated for the next cut because of economic

uncertainty, according to a report.

Speeches from Federal Reserve Bank presidents of Minneapolis

and St. Louis, Neel Kashkari and Alberto Musalem, are

anticipated later in the day.

Among notable stock moves, Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) rose 2.4% in

premarket trading after the discount-retail chain said it is

nearing a sale of its Family Dollar business to a consortium of

private equity investors for about $1 billion.

Excluding the Family Dollar banner, the company reported

quarterly net sales marginally higher than the previous year's

figure.

GameStop ( GME ) jumped 12.2% following its board's

unanimous approval to incorporate bitcoin as a treasury reserve

asset and its announcement of fourth-quarter results.

U.S.-listed shares of miners such as Southern Copper

rose 1.1% and Freeport-McMoran added 1.7%,

tracking higher copper prices on expectations that Trump may

impose tariffs on the red metal.