Dow futures plunge 370 points: 5 things to know before market opens

US stock index futures fell on Monday as rising Treasury yields and oil prices renewed pressure on equities and revived concern that borrowing costs may stay elevated for longer.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 373 points, or 0.8%, while contracts linked to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 slipped 0.4% and 0.3%.

Investors are watching this week’s Federal Reserve minutes for clues on the policy path, while earnings from Nvidia and Walmart will test whether corporate results can offset a less friendly rates backdrop.

Pre-market moves were mixed, with Dominion Energy rallying on takeover speculation and UnitedHealth slipping after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a trimmed stake.

Traders are also weighing whether inflation and energy shocks could keep bond yields near recent highs across markets.

5 things to know before market opens

1. Higher yields and firmer oil are weighing on sentiment.

US stock futures came under pressure as Treasury yields pushed higher and crude added to inflation worries.

The combination has revived the old market trade-off: stronger energy prices can support certain sectors, but they also keep borrowing costs elevated and make equity valuations harder to justify, especially in growth stocks.

2. Fed minutes will be watched for any shift in policy tone.

The minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting, due on Wednesday, are likely to shape expectations around the central bank’s next steps.

Traders will be looking for signs of whether policymakers are leaning towards a more neutral stance or retaining an easing bias as inflation risks remain sticky.

3. Nvidia and Walmart are the week’s biggest earnings tests.

Nvidia is due to report first-quarter results on Wednesday, while Walmart’s numbers will offer another read on consumer demand.

Both are closely watched because they speak to two very different parts of the market: artificial intelligence spending on one side, and household resilience on the other.

4. Premarket movers are being driven by deal talk and holdings news.

Dominion Energy rose after Bloomberg News reported takeover discussions involving NextEra Energy, lifting the utility on hopes of a large transaction.

UnitedHealth Group fell in premarket trading after filings showed Berkshire Hathaway had exited its stake in the health insurer, adding to cautious sentiment at the market open.

5. The bigger question is whether markets can absorb tighter conditions.

Investors are trying to judge how much higher yields and oil prices can rise before the damage spreads further beyond bonds.

If borrowing costs remain elevated, pressure could build on technology, other long-duration growth names and companies carrying heavy debt loads.

That makes the coming week an important test of market resilience.