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Futures up: Dow 0.20%, S&P 500 0.26%, Nasdaq 0.20%
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Private payrolls unexpectedly decrease in Nov, ADP says
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Marvell jumps as chipmaker bolsters AI ambitions with Celestial deal
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Macy's slips on striking cautious tone about holiday spending
(Updates to before markets open)
By Johann M Cherian and Pranav Kashyap
Dec 3 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes were set to open higher on Wednesday as
investors assessed a softer-than-expected jobs report that bolstered the case for an interest
rate cut by the Federal Reserve when it meets later this month.
Investors assessed the ADP National Employment Report, which showed U.S. private payrolls
unexpectedly declined in November, falling by 32,000 jobs, compared with expectations for a gain
of 10,000 jobs in a Reuters poll of economists.
With official employment reports for October and November landing only after next week's
decision, the market is leaning more-than-usual on private-sector data.
Traders expectations for a 25-basis-point cut at next week's Fed meeting rose to 88.8%
after the data, from 87%, CME's FedWatch Tool showed.
The private payrolls report has recently been lining up quite closely with the broader U.S.
jobs data. With a Fed rate cut looking more likely and risk assets finding some balance, both
factors should give markets a boost today, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley
Wealth.
Markets are looking to the Fed's industrial production report for September and an ISM
survey on services, with particular focus on its prices-paid component due later on Wednesday,
ahead of Friday's personal consumption expenditures data, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge.
At 08:32 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 93 points, or 0.20%, S&P 500 E-minis
were up 17.5 points, or 0.26% and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 50.25 points, or 0.20%.
A report that the Trump administration had abruptly canceled interviews with finalists for
the Fed chair role firmed up the view that Kevin Hassett - seen as a U.S. interest rate cutter -
will replace Jerome Powell next May.
Traders are weighing that prospect against a patchy economic backdrop, with
manufacturing data and holiday sales sending mixed signals even as a chorus of influential
policymakers has turned more dovish on interest rate cuts in recent days.
In premarket trading, Marvell Technology jumped 10.7% after the chipmaker said it
will buy semiconductor startup Celestial AI in a deal worth $3.25 billion and gave a bullish
forecast for its next fiscal year.
Microchip Technology rose 3.2% after the chipmaker raised its expectations for
third-quarter net sales and earnings per share, driven by strong bookings.
American Eagle Outfitters raised its annual comparable sales forecast, betting on
marketing-driven demand for its apparel and accessories during the holiday season, sending its
shares up 13%.
Macy's lost 6.7% after the department store operator took a more cautious tone on
holiday spending.
Crypto stocks such as Strategy and Bit Digital ( BTBT ) gained 2.6% and 3.6%,
respectively, as bitcoin recovered 1.6% and touched a two-week high.
CrowdStrike fell 1% after reporting quarterly results and forecasts.