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Futures up: Dow 0.08%, S&P 500 0.12%, Nasdaq 0.22%

Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were steady

on Tuesday ahead of election day voting, with traders girding up

for volatile trading over the coming few sessions until a clear

winner is declared.

Both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala

Harris predicted victory in the final day of campaigning, with

polls showing the race as extremely close.

Even odds in betting markets, which many investors over the

past few months have been relying on to predict the election

outcome, were mixed. Harris gained a slight edge on PredictIt

overnight, but Trump maintained leads on Polymarket and Betfair.

The VIX, Wall Street's "fear gauge" that indicates expected

equity volatility, rose to 21.98, above its 30-day moving

average of 19.65, but below the two-month high that it hit last

week.

U.S. Treasury yields eased slightly from the recent highs,

helping gains for rate-sensitive equities.

Megacap growth stocks edged higher in premarket trading,

with Nvidia ( NVDA ) up 0.7% and Alphabet adding 0.3%.

Tesla jumped 2%.

Stocks viewed as bets on a win for the former president

rose, with Trump Media & Technology Group ( DJT ) up 4%, and

software developer Phunware ( PHUN ) gaining 8%.

"The markets have already priced in an element of Trump

winning to some degree, but we'll just have to see whatever the

result is," said Ben Ritchie, head of developed market equities

at abrdn.

Investors are also keeping an eye on Congressional elections

to determine the balance of power in Washington. Many analysts

predict a split government, which would limit the ability of the

President to enact significant policy changes.

Dow E-minis were up 32 points, or 0.08%, S&P 500

E-minis were up 6.75 points and Nasdaq 100 E-minis

were up 43.75 points, or 0.22%.

Meanwhile, Boeing ( BA ) gained 2.1% as a prolonged and

crippling strike ended after factory workers accepted a new

contract offer in a Monday vote.

Adding to the action-filled week ahead, the Federal Reserve

will start its November meeting on Wednesday.

Markets have all but priced in a 25-basis point cut to the

benchmark interest rate, but the outlook for future easing has

grown more uncertain as data points to a strong economy.

The major indexes had closed lower in a choppy session on

Monday.

On the data docket, September international trade numbers

and October S&P Global and ISM services PMI are expected, while

a handful of companies would report quarterly earnings before

the bell.