**Global Market Snapshot: Tech Rout Triggers Defensive Rotation** **Asian Markets & US Lead** Asian equities faced downward pressure on Wednesday, reacting to a sharp reversal in US benchmarks where technology stocks led a broad decline. The **Nasdaq Composite** shed **1.4%**, while the **S&P 500** retreated **0.8%**. The **Dow Jones Industrial Average** briefly touched a new intraday record before reversing to close down **0.3%**, reflecting a clear shift in investor sentiment away from high-growth tech plays. **Tech Sector Volatility** The technology sector bore the brunt of the selloff as investors locked in profits from recent rallies. **Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)** tumbled approximately **5%** in after-hours trading. Despite beating revenue estimates, the chipmaker’s forward guidance failed to satisfy heightened investor expectations regarding AI-driven growth and supply chain specifics. This sentiment spread to other industry heavyweights, with **Nvidia** and **Microsoft** both sliding nearly **3%** during the regular session. **Sector Rotation: Retail & Logistics** Capital rotated visibly into economically sensitive and defensive sectors. **Walmart** surged roughly **3%**, reaching a historic milestone as its market capitalization crossed the **$1 trillion** mark for the first time. Logistics giant **FedEx** also outperformed, extending a record-breaking rally as investors sought stability in established industrial and retail names amidst the tech turbulence. **Oil & Geopolitics** Energy markets reacted swiftly to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Oil prices climbed, with **Brent crude** rising over **2.5%** to trade near **$68 per barrel**. The spike followed reports that a US Navy F-35C intercepted and destroyed an Iranian Shahed-139 drone approaching the **USS Abraham Lincoln** carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea. The incident, coupled with threats to commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, has reintroduced a geopolitical risk premium to energy futures.