Key facts
- Major U.S. stock indexes declined on Thursday.
- Rising government bond yields negatively impacted market sentiment.
- Walmart's stock fell sharply after missing quarterly sales expectations.
- Concerns over elevated oil prices and increasing government debt impacted markets.
- U.S. government debt topped $40 trillion.
U.S. stock indexes experienced a downturn on Thursday, primarily driven by a resurgence in government bond yields which dampened investor sentiment. Adding to the pressure, retail giant Walmart saw its stock price drop significantly following a failure to meet quarterly sales expectations. Market participants were also looking ahead to comments from St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem for further economic insights. Concerns over elevated oil prices and increasing government debt have impacted bond and stock markets this week, with U.S. debt topping $40 trillion for the first time.