By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 lost 22.70 points or 0.33% to 6,938.90 in Thursday’s mid morning deals, returning to trade after a public holiday yesterday as U.S. Federal Reserve officials kept interest rates on hold at the end of its two-day policy meeting, while reaffirming the likelihood of a March rate hike and quantitative tightening.
ASX 200 Futures were down 0.7%.
Among stocks, the Energy sector surged after Crude Oil prices touched fresh 8-year highs as the Russia-Ukraine conflict caused jitters raised concerns about potential supply disruptions.
Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) added 3.81%, Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) gained 4.17% and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX:BPT) surged 10.35%.
Technology was mostly lower with Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX:BRN) down 4.63%, Novonix Ltd (ASX:NVX) falling 5.09%, Megaport Ltd (ASX:MP1) down 3.31%, Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) falling 3.74% and Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX:WTC) plunging 12.19%.
Financials were mostly higher as Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA) gained 0.67%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) lifted 1.19%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) added 1.88% while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) added 2.63% and 0.83% respectively.
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 2.016% while United States 10-Year rates were at 1.844%.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 fell 0.35% to 12,143.