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

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Futures down: Dow 0.28%, S&P 500 0.23%, Nasdaq 0.22%

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Firefly Aerospace ( FLY ) slides after rocket test mishap

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Wolfspeed ( WOLF ) stock soars after bankruptcy exit

(Updates prices)

By Niket Nishant and Sukriti Gupta

Sept 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were lower

on Tuesday, as investors awaited a crucial labor market report,

while fretting over likely delays in the release of key economic

data due to a potential government shutdown.

Investor sentiment has shifted back toward risk aversion,

just a day after equities posted gains. While previous shutdowns

have had limited impact on markets, some analysts warned that

the current episode could be more disruptive given the delicate

economic backdrop.

"Shutdowns are more apt to be a temporary disruption rather

than a permanent drag where the short-term economic impacts are

often recouped over time," said Jack Janasiewicz, lead portfolio

strategist at Natixis Investment Managers.

"However, the length of any shutdown can impact the

collection and release of important economic data, especially at

a time when the economy is at a crucial juncture with regard to

growth and inflation."

At 06:42 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 131 points,

or 0.28%, S&P 500 E-minis were down 15.5 points, or

0.23%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 54.75 points, or

0.22%.

The Federal Reserve's data-dependent stance has heightened

the importance of upcoming releases, with investors hoping for a

steady stream of benign readings to keep rate-cut expectations

alive and support the equity rally.

With the risk of delayed data looming over markets, the

economic reports due on Tuesday, including the Labor

Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for August

and the Conference Board's consumer confidence index, could

carry added significance and attract heightened scrutiny.

Traders will also look to a busy slate of Fed speakers for

direction, including Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, Boston Fed's

Susan Collins, Chicago Fed's Austan Goolsbee and Dallas Fed's

Lorie Logan.

Equities have held up well through the third quarter, with

the benchmark S&P 500, the tech-heavy Nasdaq and

the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average all set to

notch gains for a second straight quarter.

Markets will now enter the fourth quarter, historically a

favorable stretch for equities due to year-end positioning and

holiday spending.

Earnings commentary will start to take center-stage during

the period, especially as several companies indicated plans to

raise prices, a move that could have implications for inflation

and, by extension, the Fed's policy path.

Nike ( NKE ) is scheduled to report earnings after markets

close on Tuesday, offering an early look at consumer demand and

margin trends. Its shares were flat in premarket trading.

Chipmaker Wolfspeed surged 23.2% a day after

exiting bankruptcy. Firefly Aerospace ( FLY ) dropped 9.9% after

a testing mishap destroyed the core booster for its centerpiece

Alpha rocket.

EchoStar ( SATS ) jumped 7.2% after Bloomberg News reported

on Monday that Verizon Communications ( VZ ) was in discussions

with the telecommunications services firm about purchasing some

of its wireless spectrum.