U.S. stock index futures rose on the evening of 26 March, with Wall Street likely to see some rebound after three consecutive days of declines, as investors worry about additional inflation and Federal Reserve data.

However, gains were kept in check, with Wall Street expected to remain cautious ahead of crucial inflation data later this week and speeches from senior Federal Reserve officials.

As of 7:40 PM Eastern Time (11:40 PM Greenwich Mean Time), S&P 500 index futures were up 0.2% at 5274.0 points, Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 0.2% to 18485.0 points, and Dow Jones Industrial Average index futures gained 0.2% to 39758.0 points.

Waiting for PCE inflation data and Fed speeches to provide more market clues. Wall Street indices have been in a holding pattern since hitting record highs last week, with traders seeking more clues on the inflation path and interest rate cuts.

The rally in AI-driven tech stocks slowed down, with NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) shares falling 2.6% from near historic highs and holding steady in after-hours trading.

The focus now shifts entirely to the PCE price index data set to be released on Friday, when the market will be closed for Good Friday.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell and FOMC member Mary Daly will each deliver speeches on Friday, providing additional clues on rate cuts following inflation, as the central bank indicated last week that it would still cut rates by 75 basis points in 2024, unaffected by inflation.

However, Wall Street still faces pressure as more rate cuts are expected.

On Tuesday, the S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 5203.58 points, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.4% to 16315.70 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1% to 39282.33 points. All three indices were close to the record highs set last week.

After-hour Trading highlights:

Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) saw its stock rise by about 5% to reach a record high, as the FDA authorized its treatment for a rare lung disease.

On the other hand, GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME) fell as much as 16% due to missing quarterly earnings expectations. The quarter has seen some staff cuts as a result of ongoing pressure from digital platforms and declining consumer spending.

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ: DNUT) rose 3.8%, continuing its nearly 40% gain in previous trading, after signing a contract with McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) to sell its doughnuts through the fast-food chain.

Shockwave Medical (NASDAQ: SWAV) rose 1.6%, extending a 10% gain, amid reports that Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is in talks to acquire the medical device maker.