Why the ASX 200 is sliding towards a 4-week low today

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having another difficult session on Wednesday as investors respond to a weaker lead from global markets.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.69% to 8,743 points.

The session looked much worse earlier on. The ASX 200 fell as low as 8,676.7 points this morning before trimming some of those losses.

Still, the decline has been enough to push the index back near its lowest levels in weeks.

Here’s what is dragging on the market today.

Oil is back in focus

Crude prices have been pushed higher after renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Fresh attacks on commercial vessels, along with another round of US military strikes against Iran, have put supply risk back in the spotlight.

According to Trading Economics, WTI crude is trading at around US$72.32 a barrel, up 2.66%, while Brent crude is near US$76.05 a barrel, up 2.55%.

That has helped support energy shares, even as the broader market loses ground.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 4.8% to $7.43, while Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are 2.79% higher to $28.75.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) shares are also up 1.63% to $10.315.

Miners and tech drag on the index

The problem for the ASX 200 is that the gains in energy are being offset elsewhere.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 3.3% to $56.925, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are 2.35% lower to $164.19.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are also weaker, falling 0.93% to $18.21.

The selling has also spread beyond resources.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are down 1.63% to $249.22, Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares have dropped 2.43% to $29.935, and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are off 2.47% to $4.945 following the recent outage.

Overall, 128 ASX 200 shares are falling, 62 are rising, and 10 are unchanged.

Banks and defensives soften the fall

The ASX 200 is still lower, but support from the banks and defensives is helping limit the damage.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.41% to $166.01, although the rest of the major banks are holding up a little better.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are 0.25% lower at $36.04, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is flat at $39.22, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has edged 0.31% higher to $35.55.

The supermarkets are also giving the market some support.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares are up 0.79% to $39.73, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) has added 0.43% to $23.42.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) is also in positive territory, climbing 0.96% to $25.23 on the back of a leadership update.

The post Why the ASX 200 is sliding towards a 4-week low today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Qube shares: Scheme now effective and special dividend declared
• IperionX launches US$50m capital raise for titanium expansion
• Atlas Arteria closes IFM takeover and begins board renewal
• Ramelius Resources achieves FY26 guidance, grows cash flow and completes Edna May sale
• ResMed’s $490m MatrixCare sale: What it means

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Goodman Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.