Incitec Pivot lifts, Nickel Mines rises on SPP withdraw: ASX down 0.3% at noon

The ASX has fallen into negative territory this morning following Wall Street, in the wake of failed ceasefire talks between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers. The technology sector is weighing on the local bourse, followed by consumer discretionary and real estate, while materials are performing the best.
$Appen Ltd (APX.AU)$ is weighing on the tech sector, falling 4.4 per cent, although no official company announcements have been released.
Energy stocks are mixed, with Santos (ASX:STO) down 0.9 per cent to $7.53 and Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) down 0.3 per cent to $31.55, while Beach Energy (ASX:BPT) is trading 1.9 per cent higher at $1.63.
Major banks are lifting higher, except $Macquarie Group Ltd (MQG.AU)$ , which is down 0.1 per cent to $183.76. ANZ Banking Group (ASX:ANZ) has added 0.7 per cent to $25.94, $WABCO Holdings (WBC.US)$ has risen 0.6 per cent to $22.80, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) is up 0.1 per cent to $99.86 and National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) is trading 0.1 per cent higher at $30.01.