By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 was down 33.7 points or 0.5% to 7,195.7 after the first 80 minutes of Thursday's trade, extending declines for the third consecutive session as weakening economic data sparked recession fears.
ASX 200 Futures were pointing 0.4% lower.
Among stocks, Energy led declines, down 2.6% on lower crude oil prices. Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) was down 1.2%, Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WDS) fell 2.4%, Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX:VEA) lost 1.2% and South32 Ltd (ASX:S32) dipped 2.7%.
Industrials were down 1.1% collectively with Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) falling 1.2%, Reece Ltd (ASX:REH) down 1.2% and Brambles Ltd (ASX:BXB) slipping 1.3%.
Information Technology was 0.5% lower as Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) dipped 2.1%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) lost 0.3%, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX:LNK) fell 5.9% and Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) dipped 4.2%.
Ahead in the session, investors will be looking toward fresh trade balance data.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year rates were at 4-month lows of 3.311% while United States 10-Year yields were at 3.44%.
In new Zealand, the NZX 50 added 0.1% to 11,624.8.