US equity markets retreated on Friday (19 July) as technology stocks came under fresh pressure and investors digested the impact of a global technology outage - Dow dropped -377-points or -0.93%, extending its decline over the past two sessions to over >900 points or ~2.2%. Intel Corp shed -5.42% to be the worst performer in the 30-stock index on Friday (19 July).

The broader S&P500 fell -0.71%, with Energy (down -1.29%), Information Technology (-1.27%) and Financials (-1.00%) all fell 1%+ to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. Health Care (up +0.50%) and Utilities (+0.11%) were the only primary sectors to advance.  Starbucks Corp rallied +6.85% after the Wall Street Journal reported that activist investor Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in the global coffee chain and is engaging with management to find ways to improve the company’s share price.