Stocks Futures Steady as Bond Selloff Extends, Oil Prices Rise
By Joe StonorNasdaq and S&P 500 futures were little moved in early European trade after the indexes surged to records in the last session, as still-higher Treasury yields and a fresh jump in oil prices failed to knock U.S. stock market exuberance.The "Magnificent Seven"--the mega-cap companies Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Tesla--continued to strengthen in premarket trade after powering indexes to new records. Gains were limited elsewhere, however, as futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 0.2%. Futures for the S&P 500 were flat, while Nasdaq futures edged 0.1% lower amid weakness for some chip makers."The breadth of the rally has narrowed," said UBS Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer Mark Haefele. "The increasing concentration of market gains reinforces the importance of managing risk."Brent crude oil prices rose 0.6% to $101.20 a barrel while WTI prices neared $90 after Houthi militants attacked Saudi airports. Conflict in the Arabian peninsula is escalating after Saudi-backed forces launched a counteroffensive to retake territory along the Red Sea.Treasury yields rose in tandem with oil prices. Ten-year yields added 3.6 basis points to 5.307%, while 30-year yields jumped 4.3 basis points to 5.683%.Higher yields and oil prices dragged the market mood in Asia and Europe. The Korean Kospi slipped 2%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.6%. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%. In Europe, AI-linked stocks slid as the continent-wide Stoxx 600 fell 0.55%.French government bonds came under renewed pressure as budget talks remain in focus. Ten-year French OAT yield increased 5.4 basis points to 4.806% compared with a 2.2-basis-point rise for 10-year Bund yields.The dollar continued to strengthen as oil prices rose, prompting a fall in bitcoin and gold prices. Bitcoin fell close to $84,100, while New York gold contracts fell 0.7% to $4,159 a troy ounce.For the day ahead, the Federal Reserve will publish minutes from its September policy meeting, adding color to policymakers' economic outlook.Write to Joe Stonor at [email protected]