Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew. Half-time wrap:...

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

Aussie stocks slid to a two-week low after valuation worries sparked Wall Street's worst night since 2022.

The ASX 200 retreated 91 points or 1.14% by mid-session.

The tech sector took the biggest hit, falling 2.58% in the wake of last night's 3.64% plunge on the Nasdaq. The tech-heavy US index tanked after soft trading updates from Alphabet and Tesla prompted investors to dump the Magnificent Seven group of US market leaders. The S&P 500 lost 2.31%.

A 32% decline in profit from Macquarie Group added to headwinds. The finance group's shares fell 3.7%. Other notable drags included miners Fortescue Metals, Regis Resources and West African Resources, and Afterpay owner Block.


Personal trading: Not much of a sell-off. Disappointing for bargain hunters. I was reduced to buying PIL, which I only ever do wearing a wig and a false moustache in case anyone recognises me. Don't tell my mother. She thinks I play piano in a whorehouse.