GameStop Corp GME.N gained 3.9% after the video game retailer reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss. By Sruthi Shankar and Ankika Biswas Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks struggled for direction on Thursday as investors digested hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other policymakers that cemented bets of a large interest rate hike later this month. Investors are also awaiting the U.S. August inflation report next week for fresh clues on whether the Federal Reserve will hike rates by half or three-quarters of a percentage point at the next policy meeting due Sept. 20-21.