Stock Market Today: Stocks slide as oil, Treasury yields power higher

In this article:

Check back for updates throughout the trading day

U.S. equity futures moved lower in early Monday trading, while Treasury bond yields jumped to the highest levels in two months, as investors looked to reset market forecasts following last week's blowout jobs report and the expanding military tensions in the middle east region.

Stocks ended higher on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at an all-time peak, following the Labor Department's surprise September jobs report showing 254,000 new hires, the most since March, and a headline unemployment rate of 4.1%.

The report, which also showed upward revisions to the summer jobs tally alongside quickening wage gains, has added to bets that the world's biggest economy will extend its 'no landing' momentum, with robust growth and slowing inflation, into the final months of the year.

That's shaved a notable amount of interest from the market's Federal Reserve rate cut projections, with the odds of a quarter point move lower in November now pegged at 95%, while taking Treasury yields to the highest levels since August.

Benchmark 10-year notes were last marked 3 basis points higher from Friday's close at 4.008% heading into the start of New York trading, with 2-year notes rising 5 basis points to to the 4% level as well.

Markets will focus on the start of the third quarter earnings season this week, as well as the release key inflation figures for the month of September.<p>Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images</p>
Markets will focus on the start of the third quarter earnings season this week, as well as the release key inflation figures for the month of September.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

"Looking ahead to this week, attention will be on upcoming U.S. inflation data (CPI) and producer prices, which will provide further clues on inflation trends and whether the Fed may shift its policy stance in the near term," Saxo Bank strategists wrote Monday.

"If inflation comes in lower than expected, it could ease pressure on bond yields and create some optimism around rate cuts," the bank added. "However, continued strong economic data could lead to further rises in bond yields as markets price in fewer rate cuts."

Global oil prices were also on the move, taking the world Brent crude benchmark closer to $80 per barrel, following another round of attacks by Israel on terrorist targets in Lebanon and the launching of missiles by Iran-backed Hezbollah into the Israeli city of Haifa.

The expanding war, and the marking of the one-year anniversary of Hamas' deadly incursion into Israel that ended a decade-long ceasefire, is adding to concerns of a major supply disruption over the coming months.

Brent crude futures contracts for December delivery, the global pricing benchmark, were last seen $1.61 higher on the session at $76.66 per barrel, while WTI futures for November delivery jumped $1.79 to $76.17 per barrel.

Related: Veteran fund manager delivers startling S&P 500 warning

Heading into the start of the trading day on Wall Street, futures contacts tied to the S&P 500, which is up around 20.5% for the year, are priced for a 38 point opening bell decline.

Futures linked to the Dow, meanwhile, suggest a 220 point opening bell slump, while the tech-focused Nasdaq is called 153 points lower.

More Wall Street Analysts:

In overseas markets, Europe's Stoxx 600 benchmark slipped 0.35% in early Frankfurt trading, with Britain's commodities-heavy FTSE 100 rising 0.2% in London.

Overnight in Asia, the yen fell to a fresh seven-week low against the U.S. dollar, helping the export-focused Nikkei 225 rise 1.8% in Tokyo, while the regional MSCI ex-Japan benchmark gained 0.5% heading into the final hours of trading.

Related: The 10 best investing books, according to our stock market pros

Advertisement