ASX falls after a selling wave washed through the tech sector

The Australian sharemarket opened weaker after a selling wave washed through the tech sector following a report of an unexpected financing turn regarding an Oracle data centre.
The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 19.20 points, or by 0.2 per cent to 8566 at 10.10am AEDT , with eight of the 11 sectors off. Blue Owl, a longtime partner in Oracle's rapid AI infrastructure build-out, has opted not to contribute equity for a data centre in Michigan, Bloomberg reported. This saw the Nasdaq drop by 1.8 per cent and the S&P 500 by 1.2 per cent.
On the ASX, technology was the weakest as it tacked the Nasdaq. Data centre operator NextDC dived 4 per cent, TechnologyOne 1.8 per cent and WiseTech Global by 1.4 per cent.
Energy was lower as Woodside dropped 2.1 per cent after it announced the unexpected departure of chief executive Meg O'Neill, who will become the boss of oil giant BP. Liz Westcott, who runs the company's Australian operations, will take over as acting chief executive until a successor is found.
Woodside's decline came despite a 2 per cent gain in crude prices after geopolitical tensions escalated sharply, with ANZ pointing to increased pressure by the US on Venezuela's oil exports as the key catalyst. Santos added 1 per cent as it received $1.073 billion from Fluor Australia after the Queensland Supreme Court upheld a judgment in the company's favour.
Real estate was the best performing sector as Scentre and Charter Hall both firmed 0.7 per cent and GPT Group by 1.1 per cent.
Stocks in focus
In company news, Bendigo Bank fell 0.9 per cent after it was slapped with actions from both the prudential regulator and financial crimes watchdog after revelations four people were arrested over suspicious activity at one of its branches.
ANZ was flat at $36.10 as its board was hit with a 'second strike' on the bank's remuneration report, according to a filing with the ASX of proxy votes cast ahead of the ANZ annual meeting in Sydney.
Bapcor chief executive Angus McKay resigned after less than 18 months in the role. The resignation followed his demotion from a dual role of being the group's executive chairman and chief executive. Shares rose 1.4 per cent.
BetMakers soared 5.7 per cent after it secured a multi-year agreement with Stake to supply its RaceOdds+ platform as the online wagering operator expands its global horse racing offering.
APA Group added 1 per cent after it agreed to sell its 20 per cent equity interest in GDI (EII), the owner of the Allgas gas distribution network, to affiliates of Stonepeak, as part of a broader transaction that will see Stonepeak acquire 100 per cent of GDI.

Sumber : AFR