Pre-Market Report – Friday 17 July: US markets ease - Semis sink - SPI down 15 - Gold falls

Stocks fell on Thursday as a sell-off in technology stocks overshadowed a raft of solid earnings reports.The S&P 500 lost 0.51% and ended at 7,533.77, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.47% to 25,881.95. The tech-heavy major averages struggled with weakness in semiconductors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 105.67 points, or 0.20%, and closed at 52,552.97.Chip stocks slid after Taiwan Semiconductor posted an increase in its spending forecast, which overshadowed a better-than-expected second-quarter report. The company expects capital expenditures to clock in between $60 billion and $64 billion for the year, up from a prior guidance in the range of $52 billion to $56 billion. The stock lost more than 2%. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) slid almost 4%, led by a more than 5% drop in Arm Holdings. Shares of Micron Technology and Advanced Micro Devices were also lower by more than 5% each. Broadcom was off 5%. The U.S.-listed shares of SK Hynix slid more than 13%.SPI down 15 - Gold drops - Oil flatMarcus Today – Daily Market InsightsMarcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.If you'd like to go further:Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcastJoin Marcus Today Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offerMT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcastPrinciples – How We Think About Investing A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast—Disclaimer This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.