US markets extended losses as rising oil prices and a sharp sell-off in tech stocks weighed on sentiment , overshadowing dovish signals from the Federal Reserve. Key Market Moves S&P 500 fell 0.4% to 6,343.72 Nasdaq dropped 0.7% to 20,794.64 Dow Jones rose 0.1% to 45,216.14 Key takeaway: Tech weakness and oil-driven inflation fears are dragging the broader market lower. What’s Driving the Sell-Off? 1. Oil Prices Surge Again Crude oil jumped over 5% to around US$105 Driven by ongoing US–Iran–Israel conflict Higher oil = higher inflation risk = pressure on equities 2. Tech Stocks Lead the Decline Heavy losses in AI, chip, and data-related names: Applied Digital : -13.5% AXT Inc : -13% Micron Technology : -9.9% Arm Holdings : -5% Intel : -4.5% Super Micro Computer : -4.1% AI and semiconductor stocks are facing profit-taking and valuation concerns 3. Fed Comments Not Enough to Lift Sentiment Jerome Powell signaled no immediate rate hikes despite rising energy pri...
KUALA LUMPUR (March 16): The FBM KLCI increased 1.12 points or 0.1% as index-linked banking and telecommunication stocks rose.
At 5pm, the KLCI closed at 1,846.39 on gains in stocks including Hong Leong Financial Group, RHB Bank Bhd, Maxis Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd. The KLCI erased losses after falling to its intraday low at 1,838.40 along with Asian share markets.
Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 0.58% lower while Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.12%. South Korea's Kospi erased losses to rise 0.06%. Reuters reported that Asian stocks slid on Friday as reports of more chaos in the Trump administration tested investors' nerves, already frayed by fears that US tariffs could hurt the global economy and trigger a trade war.
In Malaysia, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd head of research Victor Wan told theedgemarkets.com that investors remain cautious on a possible global trade war due to US' proposed import taxes.
“Unfortunately there is less positivity at this point. People are looking at whether interest rates will be raised or whether the potential trade war could be weighing on the market at this point. Whenever the US sneezes, the whole world gets the flu — that sort of sentiment is spreading around the world,” Wan said.
Source: The Edge
Comments
Post a Comment