US futures gain as jobs report comes into focus

United States equity futures traded higher on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST) as Wall Street entered the start of a new trading month.

By 10:15 am AEST (12:15 am GMT), Dow futures had gained 0.2%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures were each up 0.3%.

In regular trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9%, the S&P 500 declined 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.2%.

Investors entered the new trading month weighing softer inflation data against elevated Treasury yields and uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision, scheduled for the end of October.

Markets are also looking ahead to a fresh round of corporate earnings reports.

Treasury yields edged higher despite the personal consumption expenditures price index for August coming in below expectations. The index rose 3.4% over the previous 12 months, below a 3.7% expected increase.

The 10-year Treasury yield briefly breached 5.3% on Wednesday, trading near levels last seen in 2007. The 30-year yield surpassed 5.6%, reaching its highest level since 2002.

On Thursday, investors will assess initial jobless claims, followed by the September jobs report on Friday.

Nike is also scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell.