Investing.com - Australian shares are expected to edge lower at Wednesday's open following the Reserve Bank's indication that no rate cuts are likely this year, as policymakers held rates steady at 12-year highs of 4.35%.
ASX 200 Futures were 0.4% higher by 8 am AEST, fluctuating between modest gains and losses overnight.
In the US, major indices finished higher, although they pared gains late in the session. The CBOE Volatility Index reversed most of its previous historic surge but remained at its highest level since May 2020.
At the close of trading in New York, the Dow Jones increased by 0.8%, the S&P 500 was up 1%, and the NASDAQ Composite rose 1%.
Despite gains during the day, all three benchmarks dropped in the final half hour, indicating ongoing market nervousness.
The yield on the US 10-year bond rose by 11 basis points to 3.89%.
Among the top tech stocks, five out of the "magnificent seven" were higher, with Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) and NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) leading the way. However, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) slid 1%, and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) dipped by 0.1%. In smaller tech stocks, Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) surged by 10%.
Among local companies, Arcadium Lithium PLC DRC (ASX:LTM) is set to release earnings, while Pacific Smiles Group Ltd (ASX:PSQ) trades ex-dividend.