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 (May 15): The FBM KLCI dropped 2.22 points or 0.1% after investors took profit in the final trading minutes.
Investors took profit following the KLCI's rise as they evaluated Malaysia's outlook after Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan's win in the country's 14th General Election.
At 5pm today, the KLCI ended at 1,848.20 points after investors sold KLCI-linked Public Bank Bhd shares at the 11th hour. Public Bank shares fell 80 sen to close at RM24 to become Bursa Malaysia's third-largest decliner. The KLCI had also declined on losses in stocks including YTL Corp Bhd and Genting Bhd.
The KLCI closed lower after rising to its intraday high at 1,860.59 points today. Yesterday, the KLCI climbed 3.91 points to 1,850.42 points.
Across Bursa Malaysia, decliners led gainers by 501 to 455 respectively. A total of 4.31 billion shares worth RM4.45 billion were traded.
Malaysian shares fell with Asian equities. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.21%, South Korea's Kospi lost 0.71% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.23%.
In Malaysia, Pong said there was pressure on Asian stock markets as investors anticipated a US interest rate hike. Such sentiment caused the US dollar to strengthen against global currencies. The ringgit weakened to 3.9562 against the US dollar at 5:47pm.
“Most of the regional (stock) markets were down today. Generally, markets in Asia were being pressured by expectation of the (US) rate hike, (the anticipation of which,) caused funds to flow back to US.
Source: The Edge
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