Stock futures fell Monday with the market set to kick off the final week of trading in September with big losses. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were lower by 97 points, or about 0.3%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.4% and 0.4%, respectively. Stocks have struggled this month as the Federal Reserve signaled higher interest rates for longer, sending bond yields rising. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield has surged more than 30 basis points this month to 4.43%. The market also contended with a rally in crude oil and a winning streak in the dollar during the seasonally weak trading month. The S&P 500 has fallen 4.2% in September, on pace for its second straight losing month and its worst month since December. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is down 5.9% in September as growth stocks bore the brunt of the sell-off, also headed for its biggest monthly loss since December. The blue-chip Dow is off by a more modest 2.2%. this month. “Once again, the move in rates has proven to be too much too fast for equity markets to handle,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. “The recent breakout raises the question of how high yields will go — an important question that could continue to weigh on risk sentiment.” Investors are also closely monitoring progress on a budget resolution in Washington. Lawmakers over the weekend expressed few signs of movement on a deal that would keep the U.S. government funded for the remainder of the fiscal year. U.S. Treasury yields were higher Monday as investors considered what could be next for interest rates and awaited fresh economic data due this week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose by more than 6 basis points to 4.509%. The 10-year yield hit a high seen Friday when it traded near levels last seen in 2007 when it climbed as high as 4.57%. The 2-year Treasury yield was flat at 5.125%. Asia-Pacific markets are mixed as investors look toward inflation data from across the region this week. Singapore and Australia are expected to report inflation figures for August this week, while Japan will release inflation data for the Tokyo region. The capital region’s inflation data is seen as a leading indicator of nationwide trends. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.11%, reversing earlier losses and ending at 7,076.5. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.85% and the Topix was up 0.39%, rebounding from losses last week and closing at 32,678.62 and 2,385.5 respectively. South Korea’s Kospi slid 0.49%, closing at 2,495.76 and the Kosdaq tumbled 2.12%, finishing at 839.17 and marking a seven-day losing streak. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 1.65% in its final hour of trade, with mainland Chinese markets also in negative territory. The benchmark CSI 300 was down 0.65% and ended at 3,714.6. Oil prices held steady on Monday after Russia relaxed its fuel ban, taking the edge off earlier gains on a tighter supply outlook and wariness over interest rates that could curb demand. Brent crude futures were up 17 cents, or 0.18%, at $93.44 a barrel after settling 3 cents lower on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 7 cents, or 0.08%, at $90.10. Russia approved some changes to its fuel export ban, lifting the restrictions for fuel used as bunkering for some vessels and diesel with high sulphur content, a government document showed on Monday. The ban on all types of gasoline and high-quality diesel, announced last Thursday, remains in place. Gold eased on Monday as the U.S. dollar stood strong after U.S. Federal Reserve officials flagged that interest rates would remain higher for longer, although moves were limited as investors look forward to inflation data later this week. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $1,921.30 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures also steadied at $1,941.60.
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