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Palo Alto rises on upbeat forecast

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Crypto stocks track rise in bitcoin

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Boeing ( BA ) falls after halting 777-9 test flights

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Futures mixed: Dow down 0.03%, S&P 500 up 0.1%, Nasdaq up

0.13%

(Updated at 07:10 a.m. ET/1110 GMT)

By Shashwat Chauhan and Johann M Cherian

Aug 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were muted

on Tuesday, as bets on a September interest rate cut firmed

ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's

latest meet and Chair Jerome Powell's speech at Jackson Hole

later this week.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq extended gains to

an eighth straight session on Monday, their longest winning

streak so far this year, after a recent set of data raised

optimism about the economic health, boosting expectations of a

rate cut when the Fed meets in September.

Investors have been worried about a recession after a recent

report pointed to a rise in unemployment in the world's largest

economy, triggering a selloff in stock markets globally earlier

in the month.

At 07:10 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 11

points, or 0.03%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 6 points, or

0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 26.25 points, or

0.13%.

Traders currently see a 75.5% chance of the Fed cutting

interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) in September, compared

with a near-even split between a 50 and 25 bps cut seen a week

ago, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

As per a slim majority of economists polled by Reuters, the

U.S. central bank will cut interest rates by 25 bps at each of

the remaining three meetings of 2024, one more reduction than

predicted last month.

Achilleas Georgolopoulos, an investment analyst at forex

broker XM, however, sounded a note of caution.

"(The) forecasts are relatively aggressive considering the

state of the U.S. economy and potentially reveal analysts'

expectations that Chairman Powell will be relatively dovish at

the Jackson Hole Symposium," Georgolopoulos said.

"This is probably the main market scenario currently priced

in, which increases the possibility of an acute market reaction

if Powell repeats his balanced view and fails to appear dovish."

Traders are on watch for any hints from Powell of a rate cut

at the upcoming Fed meeting in September when he delivers his

speech at the annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole on

Friday.

Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic and Fed Vice Chair for

Supervision Michael Barr will speak later on Tuesday. Minutes

from the Fed's last policy meeting are due on Wednesday.

Among individual premarket movers, Palo Alto Networks ( PANW )

gained 2.5% after the company forecast fiscal 2025

revenue and profit above estimates, a sign of growing demand for

its cybersecurity products as the digital threat landscape

evolves.

Cryptocurrency and blockchain-related stocks such as those

of MicroStrategy ( MSTR ), Coinbase Global ( COIN ) and Riot

Platforms ( RIOT ) added between 2.2% and 3.2% as bitcoin prices

rose 2.6%.

Boeing ( BA ) slipped 1.2% after the airline maker stopped

test flights of its 777-9 models as it awaits certification

after a component between engine and airplane structure failed

to perform during a maintenance check.

Lowe's cut its

annual profit and sales forecasts

, as economic concerns keep consumers from splurging on

pricy home improvements. Shares of the home improvement retailer

were volatile and were last flat.