US equity markets retreated as investors eyed a fresh rise in Treasury yields following last Friday’s (3 February) jobs report, and a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tonight AEST - Dow slipped -35-points or -0.10%, paring an earlier decline of over >240-points. The broader S&P500 fell -0.61%, with Communication Services (down -1.31%), Information Technology (-1.22%) and Materials (-1.08%) all declining over >1% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. The more defensive Utilities (up +0.87%) and Consumer Staples (+0.02%) were the only primary sectors to advance. The Nasdaq lost -1.00%. Dell Technologies Inc fell -3.03% after joining the ranks of other technology companies slashing jobs, confirming in a regulatory filing that it will be reducing its workforce by 5%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 declined -1.40%. After Bed Bath & Beyond BBBY more than doubled regular trading (before settling +92.13% higher), the company revealed plans to sell convertible preferred stock as well as warrants to purchase common shares and convertible preferred stock. The stock tumbled over >30% in after hours trading.
