Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, October 4:
1. U.S. Treasury Sell-Off Continues
The sell-off in U.S. government debt continued into a second day on Thursday, sending the yield on 10-year Treasury notes to levels last seen in 2011.
The yield on the benchmark debt was up 1.66% to 3.214% by 05:55 AM ET (09:55 AM GMT) after jumping almost 4% in the previous session.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six major currencies, was at 95.58 after hitting an overnight high of 95.78, the most since Aug. 20.
The rout in Treasuries came after robust U.S. economic data and hawkish comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday bolstered expectations for the Fed to raise interest rates again in December and beyond.
U.S. private sector activity accelerated to a 21-year high in September and another report showed that private sector hiring increased at the fastest pace in seven months in September.
2. Wall Street Poised to Open Sharply Lower
U.S. futures pointed to a sharply lower open on Wall Street as a spike in Treasury yields and expectations for future Federal Reserve rate hikes weighed on market sentiment.
S&P 500 futures were down 0.48% while Dow futures lost 0.43% and tech heavy Nasdaq 100 futures shed 0.64%.
Trading in Europe was also lower with all indexes in the red as consumer and healthcare stocks dragged on markets.
Meanwhile in Asia, mainland China stocks were closed for the week for a national holiday. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng slumped 1.73% while in Japan, the TOPIX closed 0.09% lower and the Nikkei 225 lost 0.61%.
3. Oil Prices Pull Back From 4-Year Highs
Oil prices backed off four year highs a day after data pointing to the largest biggest build in U.S. crude stockpiles since March 2017 and reports that Russia and Saudi Arabia reached a private agreement in September to increase oil output.
London traded Brent crude futures were down 0.21% to $86.11 a barrel from their last close, pulling back from the high of $86.74 reached Wednesday, the most since November 2014.
U.S. crude prices slid 0.21% to $76.25, not far from Wednesday’s four-year peaks of $76.89.
U.S. oil stockpiles rose by nearly 8 million barrels last week, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration.
Separately, Reuters reported that Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed privately last month to hike oil output as crude prices neared $80 a barrel, before consulting with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Oil prices have been marching higher, hitting four year highs this week amid expectations for tighter markets from next month as the U.S. prepares to re-impose sanctions on Iran, hitting the country’s oil exports.
4. Costco, Constellation Brands Report Earnings
Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ), the maker of Corona beer, will be in focus as it releases its financial report before the morning bell. Analysts are forecasting a profit of $2.61 per share on sales of about $2.25 billion.
Investors will also be looking for details of its investment in the cannabis sector. In August the beverage company invested about $3.8 billion in the medical marijuana company Canopy Growth.
Meanwhile, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) is also expected to report earnings after the bell, with analysts predicting $2.36 earnings per share on sales of about $44 billion.
5. Jobless Claims, Fed Speaker on Tap
After better than expected private payroll numbers, investors are looking ahead to jobless claims numbers ahead of the government non-farm payrolls report for September on Friday.
U.S. private sector employers added 230,000 jobs in September, much more than expected, according to a report by payrolls processor ADP on Wednesday.
Initial jobless claims are released at 8:30 AM ET (12:30 GMT). Economists expect that weekly claims for first-time unemployment benefits edged down to 211,000 from the week before.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Randal Quarles will speak at the Senate Banking Committee on "Implementation of the Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act” at 9:15 AM ET (13:15 GMT).