** Shares of Australian technology stocks .AXIJ fall as much as 5.7% to log their largest intraday pct loss since February 12, while the broader benchmark trades down 3.5%

** Sub-index on track to snap two straight sessions of gains, if trends sustain

** Tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite .IXIC closed lower on Friday amid a sudden setback in the U.S. labour market and a spike in oil prices following the escalating conflict in the Middle East .N

** Nasdaq futures fall 2.4% on Monday

** Sector majors WiseTech Global WTC.AX and Xero XRO.AX slip 2.7% and 4.2%, respectively

** YTD, AXIJ down 18.6%, including the day's moves, lagging behind a 2% fall on AXJO

(Reporting by Nikita Maria Jino in Bengaluru)

((Nikita.Jino@thomsonreuters.com;))