Stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, led by big declines in shares of technology companies, as investors digested a flurry of earnings reports that came out after yesterday's closing bell.

The yield has risen 73.6 basis points over the past seven weeks, according to Dow Jones Market Data. On Friday, traders were considering whether the U.S. is moving into a period of higher-for-even-longer interest rates, fueled by continued economic strength and potential inflationary pressures.

U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago.