U.S. Stock Futures Edge Down as Bond Yields Continue Rise

Futures pointed to a 0.2% opening loss for the S&P 500 and 0.1% losses for the Dow and Nasdaq-100 Friday, as bond yields continued to rise on expectations of an interest rate rise.

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed to 2.339% early Friday, while the 10-year German government bond yield rose to 0.333%. The yield premium that investors demanded to own Treasury notes relative to bunds had climbed to its highest since 1989 on Thursday.

U.S. stocks had risen and the 10-year Treasury yield hit its highest level of the year on Thursday after economic data and comments from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen reinforced expectations for higher U.S. interest rates this year and in 2017.

No major economic data is expected Friday, although the Fed's Esther George will speak in Texas at 2.30pm GMT while the Fed's Robert Kaplan and Jerome Powell are scheduled to speak at separate events after the close in Europe.