Tech stock tremors spread to Europe as metals prices also halt world stocks rally

London — Tremors in tech stocks spread to Europe on Wednesday, with weaker metals prices also tripping up a rally in world stocks which had taken them to record highs. Investors concerned about high valuations took the top off the tech sector, where stocks such as Facebook, Alphabet, Tencent and Alibaba have reached prices some describe as "eye-watering". Europe’s main index of stocks tumbled 0.7%, led by chip makers which have been a crucial driver of growth in the sector and seen stellar share price gains this year. Ken Hsia, European equities portfolio manager at Investec Asset Management, said he had shifted positioning this year from tech into other sectors, including financials, which he thought would gain from higher yields and fiscal shrinking. "Their valuations needed something more heroic in terms of the earnings growth they were reporting, and we sold some and rotated that into other parts of the market," he said. Another negative for the tech sector was a detail of the U...