Stock futures were flat to higher higher Wednesday after a federal court decision in an Alphabet antitrust case fueled optimism that the tech giants will be able to weather regulatory threats. S&P 500 futures rose 0.4%, while Nasdaq-100 futures jumped by 0.6%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded along the flatline. Wednesday’s comeback was led mostly by tech, which is why the less-tech-focused Dow futures were little changed. Shares of energy and bank shares were weak in the premarket as concern lingered about a slowing economy and jumping bond yields. Shares of the Google parent jumped 6% in premarket trading after a federal judge ruled Tuesday that Google can keep its Chrome browser but won’t be allowed to strike exclusive search deals and must share its search data. The decision avoided the worst-case outcome for the tech giant, and largely drew from the idea that artificial intelligence has provided more choice to consumers. The decision also means that Apple can continue to preload Google Search onto its iPhones, which is a lucrative arrangement for Apple. The company, which also is facing its own antitrust case, saw its stock rise more than 3%. September trading began on a negative note, with stocks losing momentum during Tuesday’s trading session. Each of the three major U.S. indexes ended the session in the red as investors raked in profits from the summer rally. Tuesday also saw a spike in bond yields as traders weighed the consequences of a federal appeals court’s ruling Friday that many of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs are illegal. The decision could force the U.S. to refund the billions brought in from trade duties. September is a typically weak month for U.S. equity performance. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said that September has been the worst month for the S&P 500 since 1950, with the average return of -0.7%. “Stocks are entering September with a time out from the recent calm,” Wren said. “Market volatility should increase, especially equities and short- & long-term fixed income, while economy slows, tariff impacts arrive piecemeal, and political uncertainties continue.” Investors are eyeing the August jobs report due Friday as the next major test for stocks. U.S. Treasurys were little changed on Wednesday, but long-dated bonds hovered just below the 5% mark as trade policy, budget deficits and the wider economy continued to weigh on sentiment. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond briefly topped the 5% mark overnight before retreating. It was last up slightly to 4.977%. The long-bond yield was last at 5% in July. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury was 1 basis point higher at 4.287%. One basis point equals 0.01% and prices move inversely to yields. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday as investors assessed rising global bond yields and the latest developments on the trade front. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.6% to close 25,343.43, while mainland China’s CSI 300 declined by 0.68% to close at 4,459.83. Over in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 benchmark logged its biggest one-day drop since Apr. 7. The 200-stock benchmark closed 1.82% lower at 8,738.80, dragged by declines in tech, real estate and property stocks. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.88% to close at 41,938.89, while the broader Topix index dropped by 1.07% to 3,048.89. Over in South Korea, the Kospi index added 0.38% choppy trade to end the day at 3,184.42, while the small-cap Kosdaq moved up 0.35% to 796.81. Oil prices fell by more than 1% on Wednesday ahead of a weekend meeting of OPEC+ producers that is expected to consider another increase in production targets in October. Brent crude fell 96 cents, or 1.4%, to $68.18 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.02, or 1.6%, to $65.57 a barrel. Eight members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) will consider further raising oil production at a meeting on Sunday, two sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as the group seeks to regain market share. Gold surged to a fresh record high on Wednesday, consolidating gains above the key $3,500 level, on growing expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month and lingering political and economic risks. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $3,537.29 per ounce after hitting an all-time high of $3,546.99 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures for December delivery gained 0.4% to $3,604.90.