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

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Futures up: Dow 0.43%, S&P 500 0.55%, Nasdaq 0.66%

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Cannabis stocks surge after Trump endorses cannabidiol

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Merus jumps on Genmab's ( GMAB ) $8 billion buyout deal

(Updates prices)

By Niket Nishant and Sukriti Gupta

Sept 29 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose on

Monday, in a firm start to a potentially eventful week, as

investors await remarks from a slate of Federal Reserve

policymakers and weigh the threat of a government shutdown.

The in-line inflation print on Friday helped keep rate cut

bets alive, helping the three major indexes to notch up gains

even as they posted losses for the week.

At 06:47 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 202 points, or

0.43%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 36.75 points, or 0.55%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 162.5 points, or 0.66%.

Attention is now riveted on a standoff between Republicans

and Democrats over funding that has raised the prospect of a

shutdown beginning Wednesday, the first day of the U.S.

government's 2026 fiscal year.

"If there is a shutdown, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics

cannot publish the employment or inflation data, an October cut

is at risk of being delayed," Thomas Simons, chief U.S.

economist at Jefferies, said.

President Donald Trump's administration has also threatened

to permanently remove workers from some federal agencies if

funding runs out, a move that could lead to a spike in jobless

claims for October.

"We are in uncharted territory here, to some extent, so it

is too early to tell what the eventual impact might be," Simons

said.

The developments come at a critical juncture for markets, as

any disruption to economic data could muddy the outlook and

inject fresh volatility.

Fed officials have stressed their data-dependent approach

and losing visibility into key indicators could complicate

policy decisions.

Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, in an interview with

CNBC on Monday, said the central bank needs to maintain

restrictive monetary policy to keep inflation in check.

Several other Fed policymakers are also scheduled to speak

through the day, including New York Fed President John Williams,

St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, Atlanta Fed President

Raphael Bostic and Fed Governor Christopher Waller.

Investors will be watching closely for any signs of concern

over the potential loss of economic visibility should a shutdown

materialize.

Also on the docket on Monday is the National Association of

Realtors' pending home sales index for August. A leading

indicator of housing activity, the report comes as the sector

continues to struggle with elevated mortgage rates.

In premarket trading, U.S.-listed shares of cannabis-related

companies rose, with Canopy Growth ( CGC ) and Cronos

Group ( CRON ) climbing 19.4% and 9.5%, respectively,

while Tilray Brands ( TLRY ) added 20.9%. Trump on Sunday shared

a video promoting the health benefits of hemp-derived

cannabidiol.

U.S.-listed shares of Merus NV surged 37.7%, after

Danish pharmaceutical company Genmab ( GMAB ) agreed to acquire

the Dutch biotech firm for $8 billion in cash.

MoonLake Immunotherapeutics ( MLTX ) slumped 87.3%, after

the company released late-stage study data for a skin disease

drug.