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5 Things to Know Before the Stock Market Opens Tuesday

Brendan McDermid | Reuters

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Nasdaq futures sink as soaring bond yields slam tech

U.S. stocks were sliding in Tuesday's premarket, indicating further September losses with just three days left in one of the historically weakest months of the year.

  • Nasdaq futures were sinking 200 points, or 1.5%. S&P futures were down almost 1%. Dow futures were dropping nearly 0.5%. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose modestly. Monday's divergence came as Treasury yields rose.
  • The 10-year Treasury yield, increasing on economic optimism and inflation fears, remained above 1.5% on Tuesday, back to levels not seen since June. Higher bond yields, which move in the opposite direction of prices, can put pressure on tech stocks by exposing their high valuations.
  • Energy stocks, however, were higher in premarket trading as U.S. oil prices rose about 1% to around $76 per barrel, nearly a three-year peak. U.S. oil prices soared 77% this year as Covid-disrupted business activity continued to recover.

2. Fed's Powell to acknowledge inflation may last longer

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies during a U.S. House Oversight and Reform Select Subcommittee hearing on coronavirus crisis, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2021.
Graeme Jennings | Reuters
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies during a U.S. House Oversight and Reform Select Subcommittee hearing on coronavirus crisis, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2021.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, in remarks prepared for Tuesday's Senate Banking Committee hearing, cautioned lawmakers that the causes of the recent rise in inflation may last longer than anticipated. The central bank chief said that economic growth has "continued to strengthen" but has been met with upward price pressures caused by supply chain bottlenecks and other factors. The remarks are part of mandated testimony Powell must give to Congress regarding the Fed's economic response to the Covid pandemic. He goes before the House Financial Services Committee on Thursday.

3. Pfizer asks FDA to clear Covid vaccine for kids 5-11

A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is seen at a pop up vaccine clinic in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, August 23, 2021.
Robyn Beck | AFP | Getty Images
A vial of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is seen at a pop up vaccine clinic in the Arleta neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, August 23, 2021.

Pfizer announced Tuesday that it asked the FDA to clear its Covid vaccine for kids 5 to 11 for emergency use. Last week, U.S.-based Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said a smaller two-dose regimen was safe and generated a "robust" immune response in a clinical trial in children of the age group. The application to U.S. health regulators comes as infections have soared in young kids, hitting their highest point in early September, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

4. Senate GOP blocks bill to fund government, suspend debt limit

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) answers questions at the U.S. Capitol following the Republican policy luncheon on September 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee | Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) answers questions at the U.S. Capitol following the Republican policy luncheon on September 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Senate Republicans blocked a House-passed bill that would prevent a federal government shutdown and a potential default on U.S. debt. Lawmakers need to pass an appropriations bill by Thursday to avoid a shutdown, and they must suspend or increase the debt ceiling sometime in the coming weeks to prevent a default. Democrats may be forced to suspend the debt limit on their own, potentially as part of their up to $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill.

5. Ford, SK Innovation to spend $11 billion on new U.S. plants

A battery manufacturing complex U.S automaker Ford Motor Co and its South Korean battery partner SK Innovation plan to build in Kentucky, opening in 2025, is seen in an artist's rendition released September 27, 2021.
Ford Motor Co | Handout | via Reuters
A battery manufacturing complex U.S automaker Ford Motor Co and its South Korean battery partner SK Innovation plan to build in Kentucky, opening in 2025, is seen in an artist's rendition released September 27, 2021.

Shares of Ford, after closing up 2.7% on Monday, were adding another 3.5% in the premarket. The U.S. automaker and South Korea-based battery supplier SK Innovation announced plans to invest more than $11.4 billion in new U.S. facilities that will create nearly 11,000 jobs to produce electric vehicles and batteries. Ford does not expect to take on any additional debt to fund the plans, according to CEO Jim Farley. He said the moves, which are part of his turnaround plans at Ford, will be funded through the company profits.

— Reuters contributed to this report. Follow all the market action like a pro on CNBC Pro. Get the latest on the pandemic with CNBC's coronavirus coverage.

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