(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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Nonfarm Payrolls data for May due at 8:30 a.m. ET

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Lyft ( LYFT ) gains after forecasting annual growth in bookings

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GameStop ( GME ) slides on likely stock offering, quarterly sales

drop

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Futures down: Dow 0.08%, S&P 0.10%, Nasdaq 0.02%

(Updated at 7:14 a.m. ET/1114 GMT)

By Lisa Pauline Mattackal and Johann M Cherian

June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little

changed on Friday, as investors awaited a crucial employment

report for confirmation of growing slackness in the U.S. labor

market, which would give the Federal Reserve more leeway to cut

interest rates this year.

The benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed

Thursday's session slightly lower, dragged by falling technology

stocks despite touching intraday record highs in early

trading.

Some megacap technology stocks that took a hit in the

previous session were also slightly higher premarket, but

overall trading was subdued ahead of the May Nonfarm Payrolls

data, expected later in the day.

Economists polled by Reuters estimate that the U.S. economy

added 185,000 new jobs in May, with the unemployment rate

expected to hold steady at 3.9%.

Markets have struggled to anticipate the Fed's moves this

year. Expectations for rate reductions as early as March

dissipated quickly, as economic data indicated a tight labor

market and persistent price pressures.

However, Thursday's weekly jobless claims report was the

latest in a string of data suggesting the labor market is

easing, potentially giving policymakers more confidence that

they can ease rates while avoiding resurgent inflation.

"As always, the payrolls are a bit of a lottery, but the

last few days of labour market numbers confirm that we are on an

easing labour market trajectory," analysts at ING said in a

note.

Traders now see a 68% chance of a September rate reduction,

according to the CME's FedWatch tool, and have priced in about

two cuts this year, according to LSEG data..

Fresh inflation data is due next week, just before the Fed

ends its two-day policy meeting on June 12. The central bank is

expected to hold rates steady, but traders will await updated

economic and policy forecasts for clues on the timing and pace

of future cuts.

Artificial Intelligence darling Nvidia ( NVDA ) slipped

0.4%, on track to extending the previous session's losses, with

its valuation dipping below the $3 trillion mark, behind that of

Apple ( AAPL ), again making it the world's third most-valuable

company.

The chipmaker's highly anticipated 10-for-1 share split

is due after markets close, which could make the more-than-$1000

stock cheaper for investors.

At 7:14 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 30 points,

or 0.08%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 5.5 points, or

0.10%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 3.75 points, or

0.02%.

Among others, GameStop ( GME ) dropped 5.4% in choppy

trading after announcing a potential stock offering and a drop

in quarterly sales. The retailer's shares had initially surged

after stock influencer "Roaring Kitty" looked set to mark his

return to YouTube at 12 p.m. ET on Friday.

Other so-called meme stocks reversed gains, with AMC

Entertainment ( AMC ) and Koss Corp ( KOSS ) down 7.8% and

12.5%, respectively. Retail-focused trading platform Robinhood

gained 0.8%.

Lyft ( LYFT ) shares rose 2.9% after markets closed on

Thursday, following a forecast of 15% annual growth in its gross

bookings through 2027.