Wall Street opens higher as treasury yields retreat

US stock indices opened their third session of the week higher after closing on Monday for the Presidents Day holiday, as 10-year US treasury bond yields fall off four-year highs. 

Earlier US data showed unemployment claims fell 7 thousand to 222 thousand from 229 thousand in the previous reading, below expectations of 230K, while continuing claims in the week ending February 10 fell 73 thousand to 1.875 million from 1.948 million, also sharply below forecasts of 1.938 million. 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley will speak about the economic situation in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, at a press briefing hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, while Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic will speak at the Banking Outlook Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

As of 03:08 GMT, Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.59%, or 15.87 points to 2,717.20, while Dow Jones climbed 0.60%, or 149.63 points to 24,947.41. 

Tech-heavy NASDAQ advanced 0.54%, or 39.14 points to 7,257.37.