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

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Futures down: Dow 0.14%, S&P 500 0.11%, Nasdaq 0.09%

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September jobs report expected on Thursday

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Dell slides after MS double-downgrade

(Updates before markets open)

By Shashwat Chauhan and Twesha Dikshit

Nov 17 (Reuters) -

Wall Street's main indexes were set for a muted open on

Monday, heading into a packed week that includes AI bellwether

Nvidia's ( NVDA ) results and the resumption of government data releases,

while Alphabet shares rose after Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK/A ) disclosed a

stake.

Google-parent Alphabet gained 3.9% in premarket

trading after Berkshire revealed a new $4.3 billion

stake in the company and further reduced its stake in Apple ( AAPL )

.

Apple ( AAPL ) fell 1.2%, making it one of the laggards among megacap

and growth stocks.

Nvidia's ( NVDA ) results, due after markets close on

Wednesday, will test the sustainability of a stunning rally this

year in AI-related stocks, with some investors already pointing

to stretched valuations and signs of a bubble. The chipmaker's

shares were down 1.6%.

"Whenever a beloved AI name dips, (investors have) been

piling in ... and you have to ask yourself who are the true

believers and how much money do they have," said Kim Forrest,

chief investment officer at Bokeh Capital Partners.

"It feels like we're getting to a point where one or the

other is running out."

At 08:31 a.m. ET, S&P 500 E-minis were down 7.75

points, or 0.11%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 23.75

points, or 0.09%, Dow E-minis were down 66 points, or

0.14%.

RETAIL GIANTS TO REPORT

The quarterly earnings season will start to thin out this

week, though not before earnings from retail giants Walmart ( WMT )

, Home Depot ( HD ) and Target ( TGT ).

Of the 456 S&P 500 companies that have reported

earnings for the quarter, 82.7% topped profit estimates compared

with a long-term average of 67.2%, according to data compiled by

LSEG.

With the longest government shutdown in U.S. history

officially having ended last week, key data releases from

government agencies are expected in the next few days.

The much-delayed September jobs report will also be released

on Thursday, but may do little more than confirm earlier private

market surveys showing a slowing labor market.

Traders currently see a more than 56% chance that the

Federal Reserve will hold its rate steady in December compared

with a near 94% chance of a 25-basis-point cut seen a month ago,

according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

On Monday, at least four Fed speakers including Governor

Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams are

slated to speak throughout the day.

Minutes from the Fed's October meeting - where it cut rates

by an expected 25 basis points - are due on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks have run into turbulence of late as investors

fretted about the pace of rate cuts and elevated valuations of

heavyweight technology stocks that have been one of the key

drivers of markets this year.

Among other movers, shares of Clearwater Analytics ( CWAN )

rose 10.1% after reports private equity firms Warburg Pincus and

Permira were in talks to buy the investment and accounting

software maker.

Dell Technologies ( DELL ) dropped 5.9% after Morgan Stanley

double-downgraded its rating on the AI server maker to

"underweight" from "overweight".