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UPS rises on better-than-expected 2026 revenue forecast

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McCormick ( MKC ) jumps after Q1 profit, sales beat

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Trump Media & Technology surges ahead of debut after SPAC

merger

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Futures up: Dow 0.15%, S&P 0.29%, Nasdaq 0.38%

By Shashwat Chauhan and Bansari Mayur Kamdar

March 26 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes

were set for a higher open on Tuesday as megacap growth stocks

and chipmakers advanced, while investors awaited more economic

data in a holiday-shortened week to assess the Federal Reserve's

interest-rate path.

The indexes ended the previous session slightly lower, with

the S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow easing from

their best weekly performances so far this year.

The spotlight remains on a crucial February reading of the

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed's

preferred inflation gauge, due on Friday, when U.S. markets will

be shut for the Good Friday holiday.

The index is expected to have risen 0.4% in February and

2.5% on an annual basis. Core inflation, which excludes volatile

food and energy components, is estimated to have risen 0.3% last

month, which would keep the annual pace at 2.8%, according to

economists polled by Reuters.

A hot reading for the PCE index can potentially hamper

market optimism around early rate cuts.

The three main U.S. stock indexes rallied to fresh record

highs last week when Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the recent

high inflation readings had not changed the underlying "story"

of slowly easing price pressures. He also said the central bank

was on track for three interest-rate cuts this year.

Traders see an at least 70% chance the Fed will begin its

easing cycle in June, according to the CME FedWatch tool, up

from a nearly 59% chance seen early last week.

Fed officials said on Monday they still believed U.S.

inflation would ease, but acknowledged an increased sense of

caution around the debate.

"We're avoiding a recession, likely to get lower

interest rates, earnings have been improving and we have not

seen the widening of the Middle East tension. It seems like

everything is going our way," said Sam Stovall, chief investment

strategist at CFRA Research.

Meanwhile, a Commerce Department report showed orders for

long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose more than expected in

February.

Trading activity is expected to be thin owing to the

upcoming long weekend break.

At 8:36 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 60 points, or

0.15%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 15.25 points, or 0.29%,

and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 70.5 points, or 0.38%.

Megacap growth stocks edged higher in premarket trading,

with Tesla, which was up 2.9%, leading the charge.

Micron Technology ( MU ) rose 2.1% after a record high in

the last session, while industry giant Nvidia ( NVDA ) gained

0.8%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dipped on

Monday, but remained on track to end the quarter with

double-digit gains this week, as an artificial intelligence-led

rally lifted chipmakers.

Trump Media & Technology group surged 23.4% in

trading before the bell, ahead of its first day of trading after

completing a reverse merger with a blank check firm.

McCormick ( MKC ) added 6.9% after the spice maker beat

market expectations for first-quarter sales and profit.

United Parcel Service ( UPS ) advanced 2.5% on forecasting

better-than-expected 2026 consolidated revenue.

Doughnut chain Krispy Kreme jumped 20.4% after

announcing an expansion of its national partnership with

McDonald's.