(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock

markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window.)

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Harris leads, Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows

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Nvidia ( NVDA ) up on inclusion to the Dow Jones Industrial Average

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Marriott ( MAR ), Constellation Energy ( CEG ) fall after results

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Indexes: Dow down 0.26%, S&P 500 up 0.04%, Nasdaq down

0.11%

(Updated at 10:01 a.m. ET/1401 GMT)

By Lisa Pauline Mattackal

Nov 4 (Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes were trading flat

to lower on Monday, as investors braced for a pivotal week for

global markets in which Americans will elect a new president and

the Federal Reserve is likely to cut its benchmark policy rate.

Caution prevailed as the winner of the tightly contested

election between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and

Republican Donald Trump might not be known for days after the

voting ends on Tuesday.

Some of the so-called "Trump trades" lost ground after a

recent poll showed Harris leading in Iowa, triggering a retreat

in dollar, bond yields and bitcoin.

Harris' odds have improved on several betting sites, an

election indicator that many market participants keep a close

watch.

"This is the biggest event for markets for the year...but we

think it's wisest not to make big (investment) bets," said

Michael Reynolds, vice president, Investment Strategy at

Glenmede.

Choppy trading is likely in the wait for the election

outcome and due to a lack of clarity on the policy implications.

"We're bracing for volatility and maybe looking for some

opportunities around the edges."

CBOE's VIX measure of expected equity volatility is

trading at 22.39, well above its 30-day moving average of 19.44.

It is, however, still significantly below the range of 31.8 to

41 it was trading at in the week ahead of the 2020 election.

Stocks viewed as bets on a Trump win slipped. Trump Media &

Technology Group ( DJT ) was last down 2% and software developer

Phunware ( PHUN ) that designed an app for Trump's campaign in

2020 fell 8.3%.

Investors, meanwhile, remained largely sure of a 25 basis

point interest-rate cut by the Fed in its November meeting,

whose decision is expected on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 108.63 points,

or 0.26%, to 41,943.56, the S&P 500 gained 2.54 points,

or 0.04%, to 5,731.34 and the Nasdaq Composite lost

20.00 points, or 0.11%, to 18,219.92.

An index of energy stocks rose 1.6% as oil prices

rose more than 2% after OPEC+ delayed plans to increase output.

All three major indexes had declined for the week on Friday,

as mixed earnings from technology megacaps led to losses in some

of Wall Street's largest companies.

Most megacap stocks lost ground on Monday, with Tesla

dropping 2.4% as the EV maker's China-made vehicle

sales fell in October.

However, chip heavyweight Nvidia ( NVDA ) rose 1.1%, after

S&P Dow Jones Indices said on Friday the company would replace

Intel ( INTC ) in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Intel ( INTC ) shares

tumbled 3%.

Hotel operator Marriott International ( MAR ) lost 2% after

cutting its 2024 profit forecast on weak domestic travel demand

in the U.S. and China.

Constellation Energy ( CEG ) was the biggest loser on the

S&P 500, slumping 12.4% after its results. Its losses dragged

the Utilities sector.

On the data front, U.S. factory orders declined 0.5% in

September on a monthly basis, as expected.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 2.26-to-1 ratio

on the NYSE, while declining issues outnumbered advancers by a

1.03-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P 500 posted seven new 52-week highs and four new lows

while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 32 new highs and 83 new

lows.