By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - U.S. futures moved higher in early APAC trades on Thursday, after major benchmark indices closed mixed in the previous session as higher long term bond yields provided a boost to defensive stocks, while growth oriented stocks struggled.
The Dow rose 90.73 points or 0.26%, to 34390.73, while the S&P 500 added 6.81 points or 0.16% to close at 4359.45. Meantime, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 34.24 points or 0.24% 14512.44.
Futures markets were 0.28%, 0.32% and 0.37% higher respectively.
Among stocks, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) rose 0.6%, and Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) jumped 2.6%, but shares of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) fell 0.45%. while Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) lost 1.22%. Meantime, aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE:BA) rose 3.1% as defensive and utility stocks outperformed.
The United States 10-Year Treasury yield eased slightly from 13-week highs to 1.524%.
On the policy front, market participants are also monitoring ongoing debates around government spending and looming debt ceiling in Washington. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Congress has until Oct. 18 to raise or suspend the debt ceiling and that failure to do so would have severe consequences for the economy.