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Futures: Dow up 0.08%, S&P 500 up 0.01%, Nasdaq down 0.05%

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Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) up on sale of Family Dollar business

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GameStop ( GME ) climbs on bitcoin bet, higher Q4 profit

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February durable goods data awaited

(Updates with analyst quote, Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) results)

By Pranav Kashyap and Johann M Cherian

March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures struggled for

direction on Wednesday, with investors exercising caution as

they awaited economic data and more clarity on the Trump

administration's fresh tariffs that are expected to take effect

next week.

Wall Street got a temporary moment of relief, in the past

two sessions, after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that

not all tariffs would be enforced by the April 2 deadline, with

some countries potentially receiving exemptions - though details

remain scant.

This provided a modicum of stability to Wall Street, with

the three main indexes closing on Tuesday at their highest level

in more than two weeks.

Still, uncertainty about the size of U.S. tariffs and the

potential for countermeasures by its trading partners as well as

concerns about its fallout on the global economy and businesses

have kept investors on edge.

"Market is in a wait and watch mode for tariff

announcements. If tariffs are not as bad as feared, it could

serve as a clearing event and be positive for risky assets,"

Jefferies' economist Mohit Kumar said in a note.

Tuesday's data revealed a sharp decline in U.S. consumer

confidence in March - its lowest in over four years -

highlighting the prevailing uncertainty surrounding tariffs and

its impact on American households.

The economic uncertainty is also likely to take a toll on

the labor market, with analysts highlighting that investment

banks are poised to cut more jobs on deteriorating prospects of

new deals in the months ahead.

In recent weeks, investors have been offloading U.S.

equities and seeking opportunities elsewhere, concerned that

Trump's tariffs might stoke inflation and stymie economic

growth.

Both the benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-centric

Nasdaq plunged 10% from their respective record highs

earlier this month - known as a correction. The S&P has climbed

more than 4% since its mid-March lows, while the Nasdaq has

risen about 6%.

At 7:33 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 34 points, or

0.08%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 0.5 points, or 0.01% and

Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 11 points, or 0.05%.

Investors will assess a monthly report on durable goods

before markets open, but the main focus of this week will be the

personal consumption expenditures price index - the Federal

Reserve's favored inflation gauge - due on Friday.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said that it may take

longer than anticipated for the next cut because of economic

uncertainty, according to a report.

Among notable stock moves, Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) rose 4.1% in

premarket trading after the discount-retail chain said it is

nearing a sale of its Family Dollar business to a consortium of

private equity investors for about $1 billion.

Excluding the Family Dollar banner, the company reported

quarterly net sales marginally higher than the previous year's

figure.

GameStop ( GME ) jumped 16.8% following its board's

unanimous approval to incorporate bitcoin as a treasury reserve

asset and its announcement of fourth-quarter results.