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

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

*

Kashkari says appropriate to debate Sept rate cut - report

*

Estee Lauder ( EL ) drops on downbeat FY profit forecast

*

AMD up on plans to acquire ZT Systems for $4.9 bln

*

Futures: Dow down 0.01%, S&P 500 up 0.05%, Nasdaq up 0.05%

(Updated at 0713 a.m. ET/1113 GMT)

By Shashwat Chauhan and Johann M Cherian

Aug 19 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little

changed on Monday after Wall Street notched up its best week of

the year, while investors looked ahead to Federal Reserve Chair

Jerome Powell's speech at Jackson Hole for rate-cut indications.

All three major indexes jumped last week as a set of

economic data, including a consumer price index reading and a

retail sales report, soothed investor concerns of a recession in

the world's largest economy.

The gains came after a rout across global markets earlier in

the month that was triggered by a higher-than-expected increase

in the U.S. unemployment rate for July.

Goldman Sachs lowered the odds of the United States slipping

into a recession in the next 12 months to 20% from 25% following

the latest weekly jobless claims and retail sales reports.

Minutes from the Fed's last policy meeting are due on

Wednesday and Powell will speak at the economic symposium in

Jackson Hole on Friday, with investors keeping an eye out for

any signs of acknowledgement of a rate cut in September.

"We expect Powell to provide a sense of calm to the

markets, indicating that the Fed is moving towards a rate cut

but there is no need to panic," analysts at Jefferies said.

"He would likely acknowledge the slowdown in the employment

picture but indicate that the broader economy still remains

resilient."

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said the debate

about potentially cutting interest rates in September is an

appropriate one to have because of a rising possibility of a

weakening labor market, according to a report.

Over the weekend, Chicago Fed chief Austan Goolsbee said not

cutting rates next month could hurt the job market, while a

report showed San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said it was

time to consider adjusting borrowing costs.

Traders currently see a 73.5% chance of the Fed cutting

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

with an even split between a 50 and 25 bps cut seen a week ago,

according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Investors are also awaiting comments from Fed Board Governor

Christopher Waller later on Monday.

At 07:13 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 4 points,

or 0.01%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 2.75 points, or 0.05%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 11 points, or 0.06%.

Earnings from cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks ( PANW )

, retailer Target ( TGT ) and home improvement chain

Lowe's are expected through the week.

Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD ) rose 2.7% after the chipmaker

said it plans to acquire server maker ZT Systems for $4.9

billion, to expand its portfolio of artificial intelligence

chips and hardware and compete better with Nvidia ( NVDA ).

Estee Lauder ( EL ) fell 5.6% after the cosmetics maker

forecast annual profit below expectations.

B. Riley Financial ( RILY ) slid 12.8% following a drop of

over 65% last week. Co-founder and co-CEO Bryant Riley had

offered to buy the bank on Friday, following its warning of a

hit from its investment in Vitamin Shoppe-owner Franchise Group.

(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by

Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Devika Syamnath)