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Futures up: Dow 0.11%, S&P 0.20%, Nasdaq 0.44%

June 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures edged higher

on Wednesday as investors strengthened bets on an earlier start

to rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year than previously

expected, after a string of economic data pointed to slowing

economic growth.

Wall Street ended Tuesday's session slightly higher, paring

some losses, with rate-sensitive real estate stocks

leading sector gains.

That came on the heels of initial losses after data showed

U.S. job openings in April fell to their lowest in more than

three years, the latest economic report to suggest growth in the

world's largest economy is cooling. This allows the Federal

Reserve more room to cut interest rates.

Markets are now pricing in about 44 basis points of easing

this year. Additionally, expectations for a September rate

reduction now stand around 65%, versus below 50% last week,

according to the CME's FedWatch tool.

"The JOLTS report follows a string of soft economic data

releases and suggests a gradual cooling in the US economy...

market participants are likely to welcome a cooling economy and

the prospect of monetary easing, given the overwhelmingly

bullish outlook among investors," analysts at BCA Research said

in a note.

Signs of steady inflation and resilient economic growth had

forced markets to dial back hopes for both the timing and pace

of interest-rate cuts at the start of the year, when many

expected policy easing to begin as early as March.

Rate-sensitive megacap stocks rose in premarket trading,

with Nvidia ( NVDA ), Microsoft ( MSFT ) and Amazon.com ( AMZN )

up between 0.4% and 1.6%.

Investors now await the nonfarm payrolls report, due on

Friday, which will provide a more complete picture of the labor

market. The ADP National Employment report, as well as surveys

on the services sector, are expected later on Wednesday.

At 5:57 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up 44 points, or

0.11%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 10.5 points, or 0.20%,

and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 82.5 points, or 0.44%.

Among individual movers, budget retailer Dollar Tree ( DLTR )

rose 2.2% after a report that the company plans to

explore options that include a potential sale or spin-off of

Family Dollar.

Intel ( INTC ) gained 1.0% after buyout firm Apollo Global

Management ( APO ) agreed to purchase a 49% equity interest for

$11 billion in a joint venture related to the chipmaker's

Ireland manufacturing unit.

CrowdStrike Holdings ( CRWD ) jumped 7.4% after forecasting

second-quarter revenue above estimates when markets closed on

Tuesday, helped by strong demand for its cybersecurity

offerings.