Stock futures track global markets lower as bond rout continues

[May 07, 2015]  By Tanya Agrawal

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were lower on Thursday, following global markets, as the global bond rout continued and ahead of the release of weekly jobless claims numbers.

World financial markets were unsettled again as the week-long sell-off in bonds, stocks and the dollar and a race up in oil prices showed little sign of relenting.

The euro hit a ten-week peak, tracking European bond yields higher and benefiting from a sell-off in the dollar.

U.S. Treasuries fell on Wednesday, weighed down by the bond market slide that pushed yields to 2015 peaks.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen's warning on Wednesday of high equity valuations also added pressure to the U.S. stock market as anxiety about interest rates continue.

At 8:30 a.m. EDT, the U.S. Labor Department will release jobless claims figures, which is expected to show new applications likely picked up last week.

U.S. private employers added far fewer jobs last month than economists expected, posing a downside risk for the more comprehensive nonfarm payrolls report due on Friday.

Alibaba's <BABA.N> shares jumped 7.5 percent to $86 in premarket trading as the Chinese e-commerce giant reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly revenue.

Tesla shares were down 4.7 percent at $219.61 after it reported a wider quarterly loss and said the strong dollar would crimp gross margins.

Lumber Liquidators shares fell 6.3 percent to $25.50 after CNBC reported that the hardwood retailer is halting sales of all its Chinese laminate flooring.

Whole Foods slid 12.9 percent to $41.54 after reporting a slowdown in quarterly same-store sales growth.

Futures snapshot at 7:21 a.m. EDT

S&P 500 e-minis were down 8.75 points, or 0.42 percent, with 210,471 contracts changing hands.

Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 19 points, or 0.43 percent, in volume of 36,676 contracts.

Dow e-minis were down 76 points, or 0.43 percent, with 36,556 contracts traded.

(Reporting by Tanya Agrawal; Editing by Savio D'Souza)

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