Futures under pressure as earnings loom; yields rise

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday, as a selloff in bonds pushed Treasury yields higher, pressuring rate-sensitive stocks, while investors awaited a deluge of corporate earnings for a clearer market direction.

At 5:05 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 138 points, or 0.32%, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis were down 21.5 points, or 0.36%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 92.5 points, or 0.44%.

U.S. Treasury yields rose across the board, as investors gauged the impact of the upcoming presidential election on fiscal policy, while reassessing the effect of a robust American economy on the Federal Reserve's policy trajectory. [MKTS/GLOB]

The yield on the benchmark 10-year note rose as high as 4.222%, continuing a steady climb higher since early October, after a bumper jobs report led investors to dial back expectations for monetary policy easing through the year.

Traders are pricing in an 89% chance of a 25-basis-point interest-rate cut in November, according to CME's FedWatch.

Rate-sensitive megacap stocks slipped in premarket trading, with Tesla down 0.7%, Apple falling 0.3% and Nvidia losing 0.5%.

The primary focus, however, remained on corporate earnings, with more than 100 companies set to report this week.

General Motors, 3M and Verizon are among those scheduled to report before the bell, while Baker Hughes and Texas Instruments are awaited after market close.

BCA Research analysts said they expected third-quarter earnings to be strong enough to support hopes for a soft landing for the economy.

"Earnings season will also provide useful information on the US economy and consumer spending, the global growth slowdown, and the breadth of earnings growth outside of the mega-cap names."

Stocks retreated from record highs on Monday, as investors took a breather following six consecutive weeks of advances for major indexes, although gains in Nvidia helped the Nasdaq edge higher.

While indexes have rallied on the back of upbeat data and a favorable monetary policy outlook, the next few weeks are likely to be a volatile ride for equity markets, as investors assess earnings, fresh economic data and the results of the U.S. election in two weeks, followed by a central bank meeting.

Estimated third-quarter year-over-year earnings growth for the S&P 500 is 6.5% excluding the Energy sector and 4% overall, according to LSEG data.

Futures tracking the economically sensitive small-cap Russell 2000 lost 0.6%.

Remarks from Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker are expected later in the day.

(Reporting by Lisa Mattackal in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)