Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Edge Lower; Bond Yields Rise

Can the positive tone of the stock market continue to be maintained?

Investors are encouraged by signs that a cooling of the economy may encourage the Federal Reserve not to raise interest rates. The futures market suggests that the rally may be fading.

Recent market activity:

Index futures fell. The Dow Industrials, Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures contracts all weakened.

German bond yields increased. Prices rose faster than expected in an important German state. This raises concerns for the eurozone inflation report due on Thursday.

U.S. Bond yields have also risen. The benchmark 10-year Treasury rate rose after it settled at 4,121% on February 22.

Bitcoin has pared back some of the gains made on Tuesday. The digital currency rose after a recent court decision that could pave way for the first ETF to offer direct exposure to bitcoin.

Indexes overseas were generally higher. Germany's DAX suffered a setback after the inflation figures. The Hang Seng Index, Nikkei225 and Nikkei were among the benchmarks that rose in Asia.

Investors watched Hurricane Idalia's path in the Gulf of Mexico, and listened to reports of a coup taking place in Gabon, a member of OPEC and a producer of oil.

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