Treasury yields were rising on Thursday, with the 10-year note once again above the closely watched 4.60% level. The yield on the 2-year Treasury note rose 1 basis point to 4.361%, up from 4.330% on Tuesday.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Thursday in light trading volumes after the Christmas holiday, as investors took stock of their portfolios and looked for a boost for the final month of the year from the so-called Santa Claus rally.

Stocks could come under a little pressure but are on course for solid annual gains as the year’s end approaches.

Wall Street's main indexes drifted lower in light trading volumes on Thursday, as rising yields pressured some shares, while investors looked for a year-end boost from the so-called Santa Claus rally.

U.S. markets are broadly lower before the opening bell in what's expected to be thin holiday trading. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4% in the early hours Thursday.