S&P 500 futures tick higher as markets await September jobs report

S&P 500 futures edged higher as investors awaited the release of the September jobs report, a closely watched data point for gauging the health of the US labor market and its implications for monetary policy.

Despite the modest uptick in futures, the major stock averages were on track for a losing week, as a renewed rise in bond yields has kept pressure on equities in recent sessions, according to CNBC.

Rising yields tend to weigh on stock valuations, particularly for growth-oriented sectors, as higher borrowing costs and increased returns on fixed-income assets can make equities comparatively less attractive to investors.

The upcoming jobs report is widely viewed by market participants as a key input for expectations around future Federal Reserve policy decisions, with stronger or weaker than expected employment data capable of shifting rate expectations and, in turn, market sentiment.

Investors are likely to remain focused on incoming economic data in the near term, as signals about the labor market's strength continue to shape expectations for interest rates and broader market direction heading into the final months of the year.