Dow Futures Inch Higher as Investors Monitor Yields

Stock futures are moving on both sides of the aisle, as investors keep a close watch on Treasury yields, following last week's volatile start to October. The 10- and 30-year bond notes are both sitting flat this morning, at 5.27% and 5.63%, respectively. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) are inching higher, while Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) futures sit lower and flat, respectively. The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) service activity report is holding investor attention and is due out at 10 am E.T., as well as this week's release of the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• How our top stock picks of 2026 are faring as Q4 kicks off. 
• A 5-minute rundown of everything you missed last week.
• Plus, three big names enjoying a fresh round of bull notes.

5 Things You Need to Know Today

1. The Cboe Option Exchange saw roughly 2.8 million call contracts and 1.7 million put contracts traded on Friday. The single-session equity put/call ratio rose to 0.58, while the 21-day moving average remained at 0.59. 
2. Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) is climbing 3.5% in premarket trading, after landing an upgrade at Barclays to "overweight" from "equal weight." The firm cited the makeup brand's upcoming earnings profile. EL has been an underperformer on the charts, down 12.1% year-to-date, though its most recent pullback was captured by the $90 level.
3. Shares of motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc (NYSE:HOG) is surging 5.7% before the bell, after receiving an upgrade at Citi to "buy" from "neutral." HOG has gained 19.8% in 2026 so far, this past week seeing more support from the $24 floor.
4. Casino giant DraftKings Inc (NASDAQ:DKNG) is up 4.2% ahead of the open, after Bank of America upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral." The analyst said the betting name has a "win-win" outlook, with an opportunity for up to $400 million in annual fees in 2027. DKNG has been an underperformer of late, down 46% in 2026 and year over year.
5. This week is fairly quiet, with Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes on tap. 

Global Stocks Seek Direction

Asian markets were mostly higher Monday after rising oil prices and volatility in AI stocks contributed to mixed results for global hedge funds in September. Meanwhile, China has closed roughly a quarter of its banks as Beijing moves to consolidate the industry amid a slowing economy. For the session, Japan’s Nikkei added 2.4%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.3%. The South Korean Kospi and China’s Shanghai Composite were closed for holidays.

European stocks are mixed following their sharpest weekly drop since April. Mining stocks led the rebound, while oil prices remained relatively steady. Meanwhile, the euro hit its weakest level against the U.S. dollar in 17 months. At last glance, London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.5%, France’s CAC is down 0.7%, and Germany’s DAX is 0.2% higher.