Investors eye big tech as stock market wobbles

Technology stocks are bearing the brunt of a recent market selloff, putting a spotlight on how an extended downturn in the sector could weigh on broader equity indexes.

After Monday's sharp drop, the S&P 500 technology sector (.SPLRCT) is down 6.7 per cent since the overall S&P 500 closed at a record on September 2, compared with a 5.2 per cent decline for the broader index over that time.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), meanwhile, is down 7.3 per cent from its September 7 closing high, getting closer to marking a 10 per cent correction.

The tumble comes amid a cluster of worries that hit markets in recent weeks, including a looming unwind of the Federal Reserve's easy money policies, a jump in Treasury yields and a nasty battle among lawmakers over the US debt ceiling.

Many investors are hesitant to cut their exposure to technology-focused stocks, which have led markets for most of the last decade and are expected to deliver strong earnings growth even if the economic climate worsens. Previous dips over the years have often been met by furious buying.

Still, a heavy weighting in broader indexes, comparatively elevated valuations and wide ownership have led some investors to worry over the repercussions of a prolonged period of underperformance for tech and tech-related names.

Here are a few of the metrics investors are studying as they weigh whether to stay the course in tech or pare back their holdings:

Years of solid performance have made tech stocks a mainstay in portfolios across Wall Street, periodically spurring concerns that they may be susceptible to violent market swings if investors try to sell all at once.