Stocks lower, Apple Wonderlust, 10-year auction, Oracle, WestRock

^{Five things you need to know before the market opens on Tuesday September 12:}

1. -- Stocks slip lower with Apple iPhone event, 10-year bond auction in focus

Markets are looking for another tech-led boost for stocks Tuesday with the Apple iPhone launch event in focus, but a key 10-year Treasury auction could dictate the day's direction.

2. -- Apple iPhone 15 launch, dubbed 'Wonderlust', faces stiff China, US headwinds

Upgrade fatigue, fading consumer spending and new political challenges in China provide a difficult backdrop for Apple's iPhone 15 launch event.

3. -- 10-year Treasury bond auction on deck amid government shutdown, inflation concerns

A soft auction of 3-year notes yesterday, which drew the weakest foreign demand in nearly a year, has bond traders on alert for today's $35 billion sale of re-opened 10-year notes.

4. -- Oracle slumps as muted near-term cloud outlook offsets solid Q1 earnings

A softer near-term sales outlook, despite an expected boost from AI investments, has Oracle shares facing a $34 billion hit Tuesday.

5. -- WestRock surges after $20 billion merger with package giant Smurfit Kappa

Atlanta-based WestRock has agreed to a $20 billion merger with Ireland's Smurfit Kappa that will create the world's biggest packaging and materials company.