ASX set to decline as Wall Street scuffles; Oil prices fall

Stocks wavered in afternoon trading on Wall Street as big technology stocks slipped and weighed on the broader market.

The S&P 500 fell 0.1 per cent. The Dow Jones rose 165 points, or 0.3 per cent, in mid-afternoon trade. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.4 per cent. The Australian sharemarket is set to decline, with futures at 4.55am AEST pointing to a fall of 33 points, or 0.4 per cent, at the open. The ASX edged up 0.2 per cent on Wednesday. The Australian dollar was trading at US68.84¢.

Wall Street’s technology stocks started the day higher, helping to support the market’s broader gains amid easing pressure from falling bond yields and lower oil prices. But the influential tech sector is now losing ground for a third consecutive day. Big Tech companies, especially those focused on artificial intelligence, have pricey values that give them more sway over the market’s broader direction.

Nvidia fell 1.2 per cent, following a 4.1 per cent slump on Tuesday. Micron Technology, which reports its latest results later on Wednesday, fell 3.6 per cent following its 13.2 per cent plunge on Tuesday. Microsoft fell 0.9 per cent.

Google’s parent company Alphabet rose 0.8 per cent. The company is replacing Verizon in the Dow on Monday. Alphabet will become the fifth Magnificent 7 company to join the index. The others are Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia.

Technology companies, especially those with a big focus on artificial intelligence, have been behind Wall Street’s record-setting run throughout the year. Analysts have warned, however, that their valuations may have become stretched.

“The next phase of the AI investment cycle is beginning to collide with market discipline,” said Jason Vaillancourt, chief portfolio strategist at Columbia Threadneedle, in a research note.

Oil prices continued slipping as the US and Iran negotiate a possible end to their war. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 3.6 per cent to $US74.02 a barrel. It has been trading below $US80 in recent days but is still above the roughly $US70 per barrel it was trading at in late February before the war began. US crude prices fell 3.8 per cent to $US70.46 a barrel.

Oil companies had some of the biggest losses. Exxon Mobil fell 2.3 per cent and Chevron lost 2.4 per cent.

Some of the bigger winners on Wall Street included homebuilders following approval of legislation beneficial to the industry. KB Home surged 16.4 per cent and D.R. Horton jumped 6.5 per cent.

Treasury yields mostly fell, removing some pressure from stocks. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.40 per cent from 4.50 per cent late Tuesday. The yield on the 2-year Treasury eased to 4.14 per cent from 4.16 per cent.

Treasury yields are still elevated from earlier in the year, especially the 2-year Treasury, which more closely tracks anticipated action from the Federal Reserve. The central bank has signalled that it is considering raising its benchmark interest rate by the end of the year. Wall Street is forecasting at least one hike to interest rates by December, according to data from CME Group.

The Fed is worried about stubborn inflation, which had been rising throughout the year as tariffs raised the costs for a wide range of goods. A shock to energy prices because of the US war with Iran worsened inflation. Gasoline prices surged and shipping costs rose. The impact is expected to linger even as oil and gasoline prices fall.

The central bank will get a fresh update on inflation Thursday, when its preferred measure for prices is released. Economists expect the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, or PCE, to show that prices rose 4.1 per cent in May. That would be the highest level in three years.

“Thursday’s PCE is set to take on greater importance for markets, especially since Federal Reserve Chair (Kevin) Warsh was emphatic in last week’s meeting about the central bank’s desire to achieve price stability,” wrote Rick Gardner, chief investment officer at RGA Investments, in a research note.

Gold prices fell 3.8 per cent and are sitting just below $USUS4,000 an ounce. Gold was above $USUS5,000 an ounce earlier in the year. The precious metal is often seen as a barometer of the appetite for risk among investors, with more buying at times of increased anxiety and more selling as anxiety eases.

Markets were mixed in Europe and Asia.