ASX Down 0.45% at Noon as Fitch Downgrades US Credit Rating
ASX Down 0.45% at Noon as Fitch Downgrades US Credit Rating
Fitch, one of the three major independent credit rating agencies, has downgraded the credit rating of the US government due to mounting concerns about the country's financial situation and its increasing debt load. The rating has been lowered from the highest level of AAA to the slightly lower rating of AA+.
三大独立信用评级机构之一惠誉下调了美国政府的信用评级，原因是对美国财政状况及其不断增加的债务负担的担忧与日俱增。评级已从AAA的最高级别下调至AA+的略低评级。
Fitch cited a "steady deterioration" in governance over the past two decades as a significant factor behind the downgrade. This move signals a heightened level of caution about the US government's ability to manage its finances and maintain its creditworthiness in the global financial markets.
惠誉指出，过去20年公司治理的“稳步恶化”是此次评级下调背后的一个重要因素。此举表明，对于美国政府在全球金融市场上管理财政和维持信誉的能力，人们的谨慎程度提高了。
At noon, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.45 per cent lower at 7,321.50.
午盘，S P/ASX200指数下跌0.45%，至7321.50点。
The SPI futures are pointing to a fall of 36 points.
SPI指数期货显示下跌36点。
Best and worst performers
最佳和最差表现者
The best-performing sector is Consumer Staples, up 0.37 per cent. The worst-performing sector is Information Technology, down 1.82 per cent.
表现最好的板块是Consumer Staples，上涨0.37%。表现最差的板块是信息技术板块，下跌1.82%。
The best-performing large cap is QBE Insurance Group (ASX:QBE), trading 1.91 per cent higher at $15.97. It is followed by shares in Insurance Australia Group (ASX:IAG) and Orica (ASX:ORI).
表现最好的大盘股是QBE保险集团(ASX：QBE)，上涨1.91%，至15.97美元。紧随其后的是澳大利亚保险集团(ASX：IAG)和Orica(ASX：ORI)的股票。
The worst-performing large cap is Xero (ASX:XRO), trading 3.01 per cent lower at $120.00. It is followed by shares in Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) and James Hardie Industries plc (ASX:JHX).
表现最差的大盘股是Xero(澳交所股票代码：XRO)，下跌3.01%，至120.00美元。紧随其后的是Pro Medicus(ASX：PME)和James Hardie Industries plc(ASX：JHX)的股票。
Asian markets
亚洲市场
Asia-Pacific markets extended their losses on Thursday, tracking Wall Street's sell-off after ratings agency Fitch downgraded the United States' long-term credit rating from AAA to AA+.
亚太市场周四延续跌势，追踪评级机构惠誉将美国长期债信评级从AAA下调至AA+后华尔街的抛售行情。
In Asia, investors will be watching the Caixin private survey for China's service sector activity in July.
在亚洲，投资者将关注财新对中国7月份服务业活动的私下调查。
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.23%, while mainland Chinese markets were also all lower. The Shanghai Composite was down 0.36% and the Shenzhen Component shed 0.15%.
香港恒生指数下跌0.23%，中国内地股市也全部走低。上证综指下跌0.36%，深证成指下跌0.15%。
Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 1.03%, leading losses in the region, while the Topix also fell 0.9%.
日本日经225指数暴跌1.03%，领跌亚洲股市，东证指数也下跌0.9%。
South Korea's Kospi fell marginally, but the Kosdaq was up 0.33%. South Korean internet giant Kakao saw its second quarter net profit fall by 44%, prompting a slide in its shares.
韩国综合股价指数小幅下跌，但韩国综合股价指数上涨0.33%。韩国互联网巨头Kakao第二季度净利润下降44%，导致其股价下滑。
Company news
公司新闻
Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) has agreed to proceed with the delivery of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) product to provide an early source of revenue ahead of first concentrate production at the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project. Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, said: "Therefore, progressing with the production of DSO not only provides early revenue potential, but also enables us to derisk the project by field testing our ore sorting and logistics solutions." Shares are trading 0.37 per cent higher at $2.73.
Liontown Resources(澳大利亚证券交易所股票代码：LTR)已同意继续交付直运矿石(DSO)产品，以在凯瑟琳山谷锂项目首次精矿生产之前提供早期收入来源。董事管理总监兼首席执行官Tony·奥塔维亚诺表示：“因此，DSO的生产进度不仅提供了早期的收入潜力，还使我们能够通过实地测试我们的矿石分拣和物流解决方案来降低项目的风险。”该公司股价上涨0.37%，至2.73美元。
Elementos (ASX:ELT) confirms zinc mineralisation and by-product potential at Oropesa Tin Project. Managing Director Joe David commented: "These results now present the necessary data to further evaluate the potential for a maiden zinc Mineral Resource at Oropesa and a zinc by-product." Shares are trading flat at 15 cents.
Elementos(澳大利亚证券交易所股票代码：ELT)确认了奥罗比萨锡矿项目的锌矿化和副产品潜力。董事董事总经理Joe David表示：“这些结果现在为进一步评估奥罗比萨首个锌矿产资源和锌副产品的潜力提供了必要的数据。”股票交易持平于15美分。
Resource Mining Corporation (ASX:RMI) announced that at their Kola lithium project, assays point to the presence of lithium-bearing pegmatites in the northern part of the project, and along trend with Keliber's deposits. Executive Chairman, Asimwe Kabunga, said: "We look forward to the commencement of drilling within these extremely prospective regions as soon as our reservation applications are converted into exploration permits." Shares are trading 1.89 per cent higher at 5.4 cents.
资源矿业公司(澳大利亚证券交易所股票代码：RMI)宣布，在他们的Kola锂项目中，化验结果表明，该项目北部存在含锂伟晶岩，并与Keliber的矿床呈趋势一致。执行主席Asimwe Kabunga说：“我们期待着一旦我们的保留申请被转换为勘探许可，就能在这些极具前景的地区开始钻探。”该公司股价上涨1.89%，至5.4美分。
Commodities and the dollar
大宗商品与美元
Gold is trading at US$1973.80 an ounce.
黄金的交易价格为每盎司1973.80美元。
Iron ore is 2.4 per cent lower at US$106.95 a tonne.
铁矿石价格下跌2.4%，至每吨106.95美元。
Iron ore futures are pointing to a 2 per cent fall.
铁矿石期货价格将下跌2%。
One Australian dollar is buying 65.42 US cents.
1澳元兑65.42美分。
