India, Oct. 8 -- Thursday US equity futures point to lower levels as higher crude oil prices, Treasury yields and inflation worries dampen investors mood. According to the latest market overview, the Dow Jones Index is trading at 51,100.60, down 79.27 or 0.15%, the S&P 500 Index has lost 14.25 points or 0.18%, to 7,787.28, while the Nasdaq Index is down 68.34 or 0.25%, to 27,470.35.

The pre-market trading was even softer. Futures for the Dow Jones index were lower by around 0.9% while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 index futures fell 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively.

What is causing this? It is the confluence of high oil prices and bond yields, but investors are watching out for earnings reports that will show strong corporate performance in the...