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

markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window)

*

Qualcomm ( QCOM ) gains on upbeat Q3 forecast

*

DoorDash ( DASH ) slides after dour Q2 core profit forecast

*

Futures up: Dow 0.57%, S&P 0.76%, Nasdaq 0.95%

(Updated at 08:36 a.m. ET/1236 GMT)

By Shristi Achar A and Shashwat Chauhan

May 2 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were poised for a higher

open on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve left interest

rates unchanged and allayed worries around potential rate hikes,

with focus moving to a spate of earnings reports through the

day.

While Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that stubbornly high

inflation would see a long-expected U.S. rate cut pushed back,

he refused to entertain talk that rates might actually need to

go up again.

Money markets see a 55.4% chance of the first rate cut of at

least 25 basis points (bps) being delivered in September, but

have priced in a greater 68.4% chance of a cut in November,

according to CME FedWatch tool.

"The outcome of the statement, plus the press conference was

for slightly more rate cuts to be priced in, not necessarily

sooner, but by the end of the year," said Brian Nick, senior

investment strategist at the Macro Institute.

On Wednesday, U.S. stocks initially rose, but the S&P 500

and the Nasdaq closed lower for the day after the

Fed decision.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department's jobless claims report

showed initial claims for unemployment benefits stood at 208,000

in the week ending April 27, against estimates of 212,000

according to economists polled by Reuters.

Focus now moves to the key nonfarm payrolls data on Friday

for a clearer outlook on the labor market and the interest rate

path. Investors, on Thursday, will also keep an eye out for

March factory orders data at 10 a.m. ET.

Of the 310 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported

earnings as of Wednesday, 77.4% have surpassed earnings

estimates, compared with the historical average of 67%,

according to LSEG data.

At 08:36 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 216 points,

or 0.57%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 38.25 points, or

0.76%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 165.5 points, or

0.95%.

Among individual stocks, Qualcomm ( QCOM ) gained nearly 6%

in premarket trading after the smartphone chips supplier

forecast quarterly sales and adjusted profit above Wall Street

expectations.

Carvana ( CVNA ) surged 37.3% as the used-car seller

forecast a surprise rise in current-quarter retail sales and

core profit.

MGM Resorts International ( MGM ) added 6.7% after the

casino operator beat first-quarter Wall Street estimates, driven

by strength in its China operations.

DoorDash ( DASH ) lost 7.4% as the food delivery firm

projected second-quarter core profit below estimates.

Etsy ( ETSY ) shed 14.8% after the online marketplace missed

Wall Street expectations for first-quarter gross merchandise

sales and profit.

Peloton jumped 14.9% after the fitness equipment

maker's CEO stepped down and the company announced a 15% cut to

its global workforce.