US STOCKS-S&P 500 set to open at record high on dovish Fed

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* Fed sees case building for rate cuts this year
* Apple rises after brokerage raises PT
* Carnival Corp slides on cutting 2019 profit forecast
* Futures up: Dow 0.90%, S&P 0.98%, Nasdaq 1.40%

(Updates prices, adds comments)
By Shreyashi Sanyal
June 20 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 index was set to open at a
record high on Thursday, after the Federal Reserve reassured
investors that it was ready to cut interest rates as soon as
next month to counter growing risks to global and domestic
growth.
The central bank left rates unchanged at the end of its
two-day June policy meeting on Wednesday, but pledged to "act as
appropriate" to sustain economic health. The S&P and the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI have
gained in recent weeks on hopes of a rate cut, moving within
striking distance of record closes set in late April.
"Chairman Jerome Powell's comments that 'the case for
additional accommodation has strengthened' was exactly what
market participants wanted to hear," said Robert Johnson, chief
executive officer at Economic Index Associates in New York.
"A continued trade war with China could be the catalyst that
sends the U.S. economy into recession and rates cuts can be
viewed as preemptive strikes by the Fed to prevent that from
happening."
At 8:52 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis 1YMc1 were up 240 points, or
0.9%. S&P 500 e-minis ESc1 were up 28.75 points, or 0.98% and
Nasdaq 100 e-minis NQc1 were up 107.5 points, or 1.4%.
Buoying sentiment was data which showed the number of
Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell
more than expected last week, pointing to underlying labor
market strength despite a sharp slowdown in job growth in May.
U.S. treasury bond yields tumbled and the dollar was on
track for its biggest two-day drop this year on the
more-than-expected dovish Fed.
Top Chinese and U.S. officials will resume trade talks in
accordance with the wishes of their leaders, but China hopes the
United States will create the necessary conditions for dialogue,
the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday.
Among stocks, Apple Inc AAPL.O rose 1.5% in premarket
trading after Evercore ISI raised its price target on the iPhone
maker, saying investors are underappreciating a large growth
opportunity.
Boeing Co BA.N gained 1% after the planemaker said it is
in talks with other airlines for sales of its 737 MAX after
receiving a letter of intent for 200 of the grounded planes from
British Airways owner IAG ICAG.L . Oracle Corp ORCL.N jumped 6.6% after the business software
maker forecast current-quarter profit above estimates as it
benefited from demand for its on-premise IT, cloud services and
license support businesses.
Cruise operator Carnival Corp CCL.N slid 8.9% after
cutting its profit forecast for the year on the Trump
administration's sudden ban on cruises to Cuba and expected
lower ticket prices in the coming months. Rivals Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd RCL.N and Norwegian
Cruise Line Holdings Ltd NCLH.N also fell.