*

Futures slip: Dow 0.01%, S&P 500 0.10%, Nasdaq 0.15%

*

Trump to host Zelenskiy, EU leaders to push Russia peace

deal

*

Crypto stocks fall as bitcoin prices drop

*

Dayforce ( DAY ) surges on Thoma Bravo acquisition talks

(Updates to before markets open)

By Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes were set

for a muted open on Monday - in a quiet start to a week packed

with corporate earnings reports from major retailers and the

Federal Reserve's annual symposium in Jackson Hole.

Investors also remained wary ahead of a meeting between U.S.

President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy on

Kyiv's conflict with Moscow. Trump has told Ukraine to give up

hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO, but will

push for a peace deal with Russia.

Wall Street's main indexes rallied over the past two weeks,

with the blue-chip Dow hitting an intra-day record high

on Friday, aided by interest rate cut expectations and a

better-than-expected earnings season despite an uncertain trade

environment.

Investors will closely monitor reports from Walmart ( WMT ),

Home Depot ( HD ) and Target ( TGT ) among others, which are

expected this week, to determine how trade uncertainty and

inflation expectations have affected U.S. consumer.

Data on Friday showed that while retail sales were

increasing broadly as anticipated, consumer sentiment overall

had taken a hit from mounting inflation fears.

"A lot of orders were pulled forward from a lot of retailers

and companies that are producing product. So from an earnings

standpoint, most likely they're going to be in line and if there

is a beat, it might be slight," said Michael Matousek, head

trader at U.S. Global Investors.

At 08:45 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 6 points, or

0.01%, S&P 500 E-minis were down 6.75 points, or 0.10%

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 36.75 points, or 0.15%.

Investors continue to price in a 25-basis-point cut from the

Federal Reserve next month, although they have lowered their

expectations for another rate cut this year, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

Recent data has also suggested that while U.S. tariffs have

not filtered into headline consumer prices yet, jobs market

weakness could nudge the central bank to take a more dovish

stance.

Markets hope that the Fed's Jackson Hole, Wyoming conference

between August 21 and 23, where Chair Jerome Powell is expected

to speak, could offer more clarity on the economic outlook and

the central bank's policy framework.

On the trade front, the Trump administration widened the

reach of its 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by adding

hundreds of derivative products to the list of goods subject to

the levies.

Among early movers, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) rose 2.8% in

premarket trading, building on its nearly 12% jump in the

previous session.

Crypto stocks such as Strategy and Coinbase

declined 1% and 1.7%, respectively, tracking a 2% drop

in bitcoin prices.

Markets were also assessing multiple deals on the mergers

and acquisitions front.

Dayforce ( DAY ) surged 25.7% after a report said PE firm

Thoma Bravo is in talks to acquire the HR management software

firm, while Soho House ( SHCO ) jumped 16.3% as another report

said a group of investors led by New York-based MCR Hotels is

nearing a deal to take the members' club operator private.

(Reporting by Johann M Cherian and Sanchayaita Roy in

Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)