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Marvell ( MRVL ) jumps after forecasting Q3 results above estimates
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Ulta Beauty ( ULTA ) tumbles following annual forecast trim
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Dell gains after raising annual results forecast
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July PCE data due at 8:30 a.m. ET
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Futures up: Dow 0.21%, S&P 500 0.42%, Nasdaq 0.71%
(Updated at 07:08 a.m. ET/1108 GMT)
By Johann M Cherian and Purvi Agarwal
Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures edged up on
Friday ahead of a crucial inflation report that could influence
investor expectations about the extent of the central bank's
interest-rate cuts this year.
Global markets are nearing the end of a tumultuous month for
riskier assets, after signs of a sudden moderation in the labor
market sparked fears of a quicker-than-expected slowdown in the
world's largest economy in early August. The influence of the
Japanese yen carry trade worsened the rout.
Risk-taking has improved since then, with the Dow at
a record high and on track for monthly gains as subsequent data,
including Thursday's upward revision to economic growth, soothed
nervous investors.
"With all that data in hand, the general perception is that
the (U.S.) economy is doing better than thought, and that a
larger 50 basis point cut from the Fed is now less likely,"
Deutsche Bank analysts said in a note.
Focus now shifts to the Personal Consumption Expenditure
data, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
This will be the last PCE report before the Federal
Reserve's highly anticipated September meeting. Economists
polled by Reuters forecast a marginal rise in inflation to 2.6%
in July on an annual basis, from the previous month's 2.5%.
Following Fed Chair Jerome Powell's support last week for
imminent policy adjustment, optimism around an interest-rate cut
in September remains strong. Odds of a 25-basis-point reduction
are at 65.5%, while those of a 50-bps reduction are at 34.5%,
according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool.
At 07:08 a.m., Dow E-minis were up 89 points, or
0.21%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 23.75 points, or 0.42%,
Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 138.5 points, or 0.71%.
The tech-focused Nasdaq and the S&P 500
closed lower in the previous session after Nvidia ( NVDA )
failed to match investors' sky-high expectations despite upbeat
results and a broadly in-line forecast. The AI-chip bellwether
was up 1.3% in premarket trading after a 6.4% drop in the
previous session.
The benchmark S&P 500 is close to an all-time high, poised
for a monthly gain of 1.2%, while the Nasdaq is down 0.47% in
August.
Rate-sensitive megacaps such as Alphabet and
Microsoft ( MSFT ) added 0.8% each, while Tesla rose
more than 1%, supported by a dip in Treasury yields.
Among others, Marvell Technology ( MRVL ) forecast
third-quarter results above Street estimates, sending the
chipmaker's shares up 10.8%.
Dell Technologies ( DELL ) advanced 5.7% after lifting its
annual revenue and profit forecasts, buoyed by demand for its
AI-optimized servers.
Lululemon Athletica ( LULU ) gained 4% after posting a beat
on second-quarter profit, while Ulta Beauty ( ULTA ) slid 8.4%
after it trimmed its annual results forecasts due to slowing
demand.
Investors will also parse the University of Michigan's final
reading on consumer sentiment for the month of August later in
the day.
Trading volumes are expected to thin ahead of the extended
weekend due to the Labor Day holiday.