Day traders' after-market lounge March 12

Thanks afternoon crew.

End-of-day summary:

Strengthening US stock futures helped the ASX regain its footing following its worst session in a year.

The ASX 200 bounced eight points or 0.11% as gains in gold and lithium miners, tech stocks and utilities outweighed declines in energy and iron ore producers, industrials and supermarkets. The major banks were mixed.

Today's rally made a modest in-road in yesterday's tumultuous 143-point plunge, which analysts attributed to a mix of commodity price pressure and profit-taking while participation was undermined by public holidays in several states.

US stocks finished mixed overnight, but index futures moved higher this afternoon ahead of consumer inflation data tonight that could reset expectations for interest rates. S&P 500 futures climbed 0.34% by the Australian market close. Overnight, the broadest of the major US stock indices dipped 0.11% as AI chip-makers dragged.