ASX 200 live: Xero in focus; Shell-BP merger talks, Nvidia at record; Powell reiterates Fed focus on Trump tariffs

Xero under pressure after insto raise to fund $4bn US buy. Formidable trio to look into bourse operator ASX's 'repeated, serious failures'. Trump's move to undermine Powell by naming Fed chair successor may weigh on USD.

Shell is plotting a once in a generation oil deal in its early talks to buy BP. Both have significant operations globally, including in Australia. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, June 26. The ASX 200 index is 0.2 per cent lower at 8542.60 points at noon AEST as tech losses weigh. Banks and miners are trading flat.

Wall Street closed mixed with the S&P 500 index flat, the Dow Jones index off 0.3 per cent and the technology-focused Nasdaq rising 0.3 per cent.

Cryptocurrency giant bitcoin is around $US107,800.

The Aussie dollar is trading around US65.21c.