Afternoon trading May 22

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1 and morning crew.

The share market faded towards its first loss in three sessions as a looming deadline to raise the US debt ceiling cast a long shadow. The ASX 200 dipped 19 points or 0.27%.

Banks, gold miners and utilities led the retreat. Lithium miners also came under pressure. Energy producers and tech stocks resisted the downtrend.

US futures were negative at the Australian halfway mark, but well off their lows. S&P 500 futures trimmed their decline to 0.1% as face-to-face debt negotiations between President Biden and Republican House Speaker McCarthy resumed.

Personaltrading: Nothing session so far. Took IHL on pullback for an intraday recovery that has not eventuated. In and out for brokerage. Also took ANZ too early.