US equity markets logged modest losses, with major technology stocks rallying in the afternoon session to recoup earlier steep declines - Dow down -163-points or -0.45% . The broader S&P500 slipped -0.14%, with Industrials (down -1.15%) and Materials (-0.99%) leading eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. Health Care (up +1.04%), Information Technology (+0.10%) and Communication Services (+0.02%) were the only primary sectors to advance. The Nasdaq inched +0.05% higher, recovering from a loss of -2.72% earlier in the session that saw the technology centric index trade more than >9% below its record closing high from 19 November (16,057.44) and almost enter official correction territory for the first time since 8 March, 2020. It marked the Nasdaq’s biggest intraday comeback since 28 February, 2020, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The Nasdaq Composite also managed to avoid a close below its 200-day moving average (14,688.73). The benchmark hasn’t closed below its 200-day moving average since 21 April, 2020, according to FactSet data. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.40%. Lululemon Athletica Inc fell -1.91% after the company said the omicron variant had hurt its fourth-quarter results. Abercrombie & Fitch Co rallied over >6.5% in extended trading despite lowering its guidance for fourth-quarter sales. The fashion retailer said that it saw strong demand from consumers over the holidays but that it didn’t have enough inventory to sell (particularly at its Hollister and Gilly Hicks lines).
