Stocks were mixed on Wednesday morning amid a new increase in bond yields and weak employment data. Payroll provider ADP said that U.S. private companies added 117,000 jobs in February, well below the Reuters consensus forecast of 177,000 and down from a revised 195,000 in January. Services activity also slowed. The Institute for Supply Management said that its services index fell to 55.3 in February from 58.7 in January and missed the consensus forecast. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.6%. Crude oil traded near $61 per barrel, while gold fell $25 to $1709 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Tuesday morning, giving up some of Monday's strong gains, as investors continued to watch bond yields and awaited Senate debate on the stimulus bill, which has already been approved by the House. On the vaccine front, in a deal facilitated by the White House, Merck has agreed to help Johnson & Johnson manufacture additional doses of its coronavirus vaccine. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P 0.6%, and the Nasdaq 1.2%. Crude oil traded near $61 per barrel, while gold rose $3 to $1726 per ounce.

Stocks soared on Monday morning amid retreating bond yields, progress on the administration's stimulus plan, and vaccine optimism. Over the weekend, the FDA authorized Johnson & Johnson's one-shot COVID vaccine for emergency use, with the company planning to deliver 20 million doses by the end of March. The Dow rose 2.1%, the S&P 2.1%, and the Nasdaq 2.2%. Crude oil traded near $61.50 per barrel, while gold rose $10 to $1739 per ounce.