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Thebenchmark US indices edged their way to fresh record highs, with the Dow and S&P 500 settling above 44,000 and 6,000 respectively for the first time ever - Dow gained +304-pointsor +0.69%to 44,293.13. Salesforce Inc (up +6.14%) was the leading performer in the 30-stock index, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+2.22%) and Honeywell International Inc (+2.62%) gained over >2%.

The broader S&P500edged +0.10% higherto 6,001.35, recording its fifth consecutive session gain and longest winning streak since mid-September. Consumer Discretionary (up +1.75%) and Financials (+1.41%) leading six of the eleven primary sectors higher. Information Technology (down -0.89%) sat at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard overnight. Bristol Myers Squibb Corallied+10.55% after rival pharmaceutical company Abbvie Inc (down -12.58%) reported a disappointing Phase 2 trial result of an experimental schizophrenia drug purchased as part of an US$8.7B acquisition last year. In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s schizophrenia drug Cobenfy. Monolithic Power Systems Inc dropped -14.97% after analysts at Edgewater Research warned that Nvidia Corp (-1.60%) has cancelled orders with the power solutions company.

US equity markets extended their rally, lifting the benchmark indices to fresh record highs to cap their best week in a year following Donald Trump’ sweeping election victory and after the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by -25 basis points - Dow rose +260-points or +0.59% to 43,988.99, briefly crossing 44,000 for the first earlier in the session. Salesforce Inc +3.59% was the leading performer in the 30-stock index on Friday (8 November).  Nvidia Corp (down -0.84%) became a member of the Dow on Friday (8 November), replacing beleaguered chipmaker Intel Corp (-0.11%). Paint maker Sherwin-Williams Co (up +0.70%) also joined the blue-chip index, supplanting chemical giant Dow Inc (-4.93%).

The post-election rally rolled on, lifting the S&P 500and Nasdaqto fresh record highsfor a second session in-a-row as investors also digested the latest rate cut and monetary policy pronouncements from the Federal Reserve. - Dow flat.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc(down -2.32%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (-4.32%) handed back some of the previous session’s double-digit gains.  

The broader S&P500 +0.74%to5,973.10,logging its 49th record closing high of 2024.

Communication Services (up +1.92%), Information Technology (+1.83%), Consumer Discretionary (+1.37%) and Real Estate (+1.19%) all gained over >1% to lead eight of the eleven primary sectors higher.

The S&P 500and Dowlogged record closing highs, building on last week's Federal Reserve rate cut-induced momentum and after data showed steady business activity in September- Dow added +61-pointsor +0.15% to 42,124.65, logging a record closing high for a third consecutive session. Intel Corp gained +3.30% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index after Bloomberg reported on Sunday (22 September) that Apollo Global Management has offered to invest as much as US$5B in the struggling chipmaker. Intel got a boost last week from a company update on its transformation plans as well as a Wall Street Journal report Friday (20 September) that Qualcomm Inc (down -1.75%) had made a "takeover approach". Boeing Co (+1.96%) has made its “best and final” offer to striking workers, offering a 30% raise as it tries to end a work stoppage that threatens its recovery. The 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751 walked off the job 11 days ago after rejecting a contract negotiated by the union’s leadership.

US equity markets mostly firmer in cautious trade of key central bank meetings later this week - Dow rose +228-points or +0.55% to 41,622.08, logging its 27th record close of the year-to-date. Intel Corp rallied +6.36% to be the leading Dow component after confirming press reports late last Friday (13 September) that it has been granted up to US$3B in Chips Act funding to “expand the trusted manufacturing of leading-edge semiconductors for the U.S. government.” Specifically, this award covers defence work. This deal is separate from the ~US$20B in funding that Intel announced earlier this year that it was eligible for through the Chips Act. Apple Inc fell -2.78% amid concerns about early sales for the just-launched iPhone 16. Analysing delivery lead times and whether models of the iPhone 16 will be available in stores on Friday (20 September) as scheduled, several analysts said that early indications appear disappointing for Apple's latest smartphone. Separately, the tech giant also received FDA approval for the sleep apnoea detection feature in its newest smartwatch operating system. Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc (-0.86%) told employees to return to in-person work five days a week next year, barring any ”extenuating circumstances” or exceptions.

US equity markets extended their recovery from an early September sell-off on Friday (13 September), with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording their best weekly gains of 2024 - Dow rallied +297-points or +0.72%.

Boeing Co shed 3.69% to be the worst performer in the 30-stock index after the aerospace company’s biggest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers representing ~33K workers, went on strike after voting down a new, four-year labour deal. The strike will halt work on the company’s best-selling 737, 777, and 767 jets.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended gains into a fourth straight session after the latest wholesale inflation figures helped reinforce expectations for an interest rate cut when the Federal Reserve convenes its latest monetary policy meeting next week (17-18 September) - Dow rose +235-points or +0.58%.

US equity markets recovered from earlier losses to advance and settle near their session highs as investors weighed the implications of the latest CPI data and the presidential debate  - Dow rose +125-points or +0.31%, with American Express Co (up +3.57%) and Intel Corp (+3.48%) both rallying over >3%.

US equity markets rebounded from their biggest weekly losses of the year last week, with investors eyeing key inflation figures in the coming days - Dow rallied +484-points or +1.20%, more than recouping last Friday’s (6 September) -410-point or -1.01% fall.  Boeing Co gained +3.36% after the aircraft manufacturer and its biggest union (the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) reached a tentative deal covering more than 32,000 workers, averting a possible strike. Apple Inc inched +0.04% higher following its product launch event called “It’s Glowtime” that saw the unveiling of the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4. Chief executive Tim Cook said the iPhone 16 - which will go on sale on 20 September with pre-orders starting this Friday (13 September) - was the first of its smartphones to be “designed from the ground up” for artificial intelligence “and its breakthrough capabilities”. Goldman Sachs Group Inc fell ~1% in extended trading (after rising +1.87% in the regular session) after chief executive David Solomon warned investors that the investment bank’s trading business was on track to see revenues fall about 10% in the third quarter. “With respect to trading . . . we had an extremely strong third quarter in 2023,” Mr Solomon said at an industry conference organised by Barclays. “This quarter, given what I’d say is a more challenging macro environment, particularly in the month of August, that business is trending down close to 10 per cent, largely due to FICC [fixed income, currencies and commodities trading],” Mr Solomon said. Mr Solomon also flagged that Goldman’s earnings in the third quarter would also take a US$400M hit from its continued pullback from consumer trading.

US equity markets ended mostly to the downside overnight as the S&P 500’s September struggles continued following weak labour market data - Dow was the outlier rising -38-points or +0.09%. Intel Corp (down -3.33%) was amongst the worst performers in the 30-stock index, amid a broader selloff of chip stocks as well as Reuters reporting that recent tests of the chip giant's most advanced manufacturing process conducted by Broadcom (AVGO) failed.

US equity markets resumed trading after the Labor Day long weekend and settled sharply lower to kick-off what is a historically tough month for equities, with investors assessing some weak manufacturing data while eyeing Friday’s (6 September) key non-farm payrolls figure  - Dow shed -626-points or -1.51%. Intel Corp (down -8.8%) was the worst performer in the 30-stock index. The chipmaker is the worst performing Dow component calendar year-to-date (down -60%) and is in danger of losing its status as a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). Intel is the lowest-weighted component of the index, making up just 0.3% of the DJIA as of last week. Boeing Co lost -7.32%, with Wells Fargo downgrading the planemaker to "underweight" from "equal weight" and cutting its target price to US$119 from US$185. The analyst pointed to Boeing's "extensive delays and added cost" impacting aircraft production cash flow .

US equity markets advanced on Friday (30 August) to cap one of the most volatile months of trading in years - Dow rose +228-points or +0.55% to 41,563.08 to log its fourth record closing high of the week. Intel Corp rallied +9.49% following a Bloomberg report that the chipmaker is considering the spin-off or sale of its foundry business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc rose +0.62%, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that the investment bank is cutting as many as 1,800 of its employees as part of a planned 3% to 4% staff reduction following the bank’s annual performance-review process.

US equity markets mixed, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq losing ground late in the session and selling in Nvidia Corp intensified - Dow gained +244-points or +0.59% to 41,335.05, logging its third record closing high in the past four sessions. Apple Inc rose +1.46% with after Citigroup nominating the iPhone maker its top artificial intelligence (AI) pick. Meanwhile, Nikkeireported that Apple is telling suppliers to prepare components and parts for some 88M to 90M smartphones, according to multiple sources familiar with the plan. That is more than last year's initial component orders for around 80M new iPhones. Apple is preparing for sales of its first iPhone with Apple Intelligence, which includes generative AI features. The company has announced it will host its flagship product launch event on 9 September.  Salesforce Inc fell -0.73%, giving back earlier gains after the enterprise software company reported results after the close of the previous session that exceeded expectations on both the top and bottom lines.

US equity markets retreated ahead of the much anticipated release of chip giant Nvidia Corp’s second quarter result after the close, and with a batch of US retailers cutting outlooks amid a challenging consumer environment - Dow fell -159-points or -0.39%, paring an earlier decline of more than >400-points. Nike Inc (down -2.93%) was the worst performer in the 30-stock index.

US equity markets settled little changed as investors eye Nvidia Corp’s (up +1.46%) second quarter result tonight AEST - Dow inched+10-points or +0.02% higher to a fresh record closing high of 41,250.50.


The broader S&P500 added +0.16%, with Information Technology (up +0.63%) leading six of the eleven primary sectors higher.  Eli Lilly & Co rose +0.42% after the pharmaceuticals giant announced it would launch single-dose vials of Zepbound, one of the company's popular weight-loss drugs.  Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway is on the cusp of becoming just the ninth company in the world to achieve a US$1 trillion valuation. The conglomerate’s total market capitalisation stood at nearly US$993B as of last night’s close, with Berkshire Class A shares up +1.34% (at US$691,350) and Class B stock +1.35% (at US$460.63). Berkshire Hathaway has seen its total market cap increase by ~US$218B since the start of 2024, according to Dow Jones data. ResMed Inc rallied +7.26% on large volume (~1.9M shares versus a daily average of 1.08M), buoyed by a bullish research note from US independent investment bank and financial services company William Blair & Company that cited a “tidal wave” of new sleep apnoea and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) patients coming from weight loss drugs beginning in 2025.  Paramount Global dropped -7.15% following news that Edgar Bronfman Jr. has withdrawn from bidding for Shari Redstone's media empire, setting the stage for the entertainment giant to be sold to David Ellison's Skydance Media.

US equity markets eased in a quiet session following last Friday’s (23 August) strong gains, with investors eyeing chip giant Nvidia Corp’s (down -2.25%) second quarter result on Wednesday night AEST (28 August) and inflation figures at the back end of the week - Dow added +65-points or +0.16% to 41,240.52, notching its 23rd record close of 2024. Apple Inc (up +0.15%) is likely to unveil its newest phones and the next generations of the Apple Watch and AirPods at an event on 9 September reportedly called “It’s Glowtime”. The iPhone maker is expected to officially announce the long-anticipated iPhone 16, supercharged with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Intel Corp fell -2% following a report from CNBC that said the chip maker has hired advisors, including some with Morgan Stanley (up +0.43%), to help defend the company against potential shareholder activism.

US equity markets rallied on Friday (23 August) after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said “the time has come” for monetary easing - Dow rose +462-points or +1.14% to 41,175.08, closing within 0.1% of a fresh record close.
The broader S&P500 gained +1.15% to 5,634.61, settling just 0.6% below its all-time closing high recorded in mid-July. Construction materials supplier Builders FirstSource Inc rallied +8.75% to be the leading performer in the S&P 500

US equity markets retreated as central bankers will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the Federal Reserve’s annual Monetary Policy Symposium, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logging their worst daily decline since 5 August - Dow fell -178-points or -0.43%. Intel Corp slumped -6.12% to be worst performer in the 30-stock index overnight following reports that the semiconductor giant's progress on constructing two new chip fabrication facilities in Germany may be stalled. Intel expected the Magdeburg plants to be online and producing high-performance semiconductors as soon as 2027. However, according to media reports this week, the schedule now appears uncertain. Amazon.com Inc (-2.21%) and Microsoft Corp (-2.03%) both fell over >2%.

US equity markets logged modest gains as investors digested earnings reports from various retailers, the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s late July monetary policy meeting and a sharp downward revision to annual payrolls data - Dow edged +56-points or +0.14% higher, with Intel Corp (up +2.0%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index. American Express Co fell -2.68% to US$246.30 after Bank of America Securities downgraded the payments giant to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Buy’ with a US$263 price target, with the analysts pointing to the stock’s current premium valuation and the potential for subdued growth in billings volume.

US equity markets logged modest declines, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapping eight session winning streaks - Dow slipped -62-points or -0.15%, snapping a five session winning streak. Boeing Co shed -4.2% after the aerospace company said it would be grounding its four-plane test fleet of the 777x after finding cracks in the jet’s structure. Intel Corp lost -2.46%, unwinding much of the previous session’s +3.11% gain.

US equity markets advanced on Friday (16 August) to cap their best week of 2024 to date, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq - Dow added +97-points or +0.24%, rising for a sixth time in seven sessions.
The broader S&P500 rose +0.20%, with Financials (up +0.62%) leading eight of the eleven primary sectors higher. Ulta Beauty Inc rose +3.12% and extended gains after regulatory filing late last week revealed Warren Buffett's investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway Inc had acquired an ~US$266M stake in the cosmetics retailer. Amcor Plc lost -3.69% to be the worst performer in the S&P 500 after the packaging giant missed revenue estimates and provided weak guidance after the close of the previous session as volumes for healthcare and North American beverage companies remained soft.
The Nasdaq edged +0.21% higher.

US equity markets rallied following the release of a fresh batch of economic data that eased concerns about the health of the economy and some further robust corporate earnings releases - Dow gained +555-points or +1.39%, rising for the fifth time in six sessions. Cisco Systems Inc jumped +6.8% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index after the software and networking company posted better-than-expected adjusted earnings per share (EPS) and revenue for its fiscal fourth quarter and outlined a restructuring plan that will see its worldwide workforce shrink by ~7% after the closing bell of the previous session. Intel Corp rose +3.87% despite the Financial Times (FT) reporting that talks with Japan’s Softbank Group Corp (+2.16%) to manufacture chips rivalling those made by Nvidia Corp (+4.05%) fell apart in recent months. SoftBank blamed Intel for the collapse of the talks due to its inability to meet demands for volume and speed, and has now held talks with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (down -0.53%), according to the FT. Boeing Co rose +4.69% after El Al Israel Airlines confirmed a US$2.5B deal to buy up to 31 of the aerospace giant's 737 Max planes. Nike Inc gained +5.07% after Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management disclosed a new stake in the company. A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing recorded that the hedge fund investor bought just over 3M shares in the athletic apparel major.The broader S&P500 rallied +1.61% to 5,543.22 and now sits +0.34% higher for August after booking its worst start to a month in eight years. The index also settled ~2.1% below its record closing high of 5,667.2 recorded on 16 July. Consumer Discretionary climbed +3.38% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors higher following stronger-than-expected retail sales figures for July and strong earnings from sector bellwether Walmart. Ulta Beauty Inc soared +11.17%, with a regulatory filing from Warren Buffett's investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway Inc (up +0.61%) recording that the firm had acquired an ~US$266M stake in the cosmetics retailer. Lithium producer Albemarle Inc rebounded +8.63% after being the worst performer in the broader index on both Monday (August) and Wednesday (August) of this week. Paramount Global jumped +7.14% following multiple reports that media executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. is set to make a bid for the entertainment giant. Last month, Paramount agreed to the terms of a merger with production company Skydance Media after prolonged talks.

US equity markets advanced after the annual rate of headline consumer inflation fell below 3% for the first time since March 2021  - Dow gained +243-points or +0.61%, with American Express Co (up +2.0%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index.
The broader S&P500 added +0.38%, extending gains into a fifth straight session that has lifted the index +4.83%. Financials (up +1.29%) led eight of the eleven primary sectors higher.
The Nasdaq inched +0.03% higher, shaking of earlier session declines to log a fifth straight session advance that has lifted the technology-centric index +6.05% over that stretch. Google-parent company Alphabet Inc fell -2.31% following news after the close of the previous session that the U.S. Department of Justice was weighing an effort to break up the technology behemoth.

US equity markets rallied strongly following tamer-than-expected wholesale inflation data, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq booking their biggest four-day percentage gains of 2024 - Dow gained +409-points or +1.04%. Intel Corp jumped +5.73% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index. A filing showed the company had divested its stake (~1.8M shares) in chip designer Arm Holdings Plc (+5.69%). Nike Inc rallied +5.17% to US$78.50, with analysts at Bernstein Research reiterating their "buy" rating for the stock along with a US$112 price target.
The broader S&P500 rallied +1.68%, taking its 4-day gain to +4.45%. The broader index now sits ~4.1% below its record closing high set on 16 July. Information Technology (up +3.00%) and Consumer Discretionary (+2.42%) to lead ten of the elven primary sectors higher. Energy (down -1.02%) was the only sector to settle in the red. Starbucks Corp soared +24.50% after ousting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Laxman Narasimhan and announcing the current CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (down -7.50%) Brian Niccol as his replacement. Mr Niccol will start in the role on 9 September, with Starbucks Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Rachel Ruggeri set to take the interim CEO title for the next month. The announcement follows recent pressure from activist investor including Elliott Investment Management.

A mixed and muted session for US equity markets as investors eye inflation and retail sales figures later in the week - Dow fell -141-points or -0.36%, with Boeing Co (down -2.25%) and Procter & Gamble Co (-2.19%) both down over >2%.
The broader S&P500 settled flat . Real Estate (down -0.64%) and Communication Services (-0.62%) both fell over >0.6% to lead eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. Information Technology (up +0.92%) and Energy (+0.49%) sat atop the primary sector leaderboard overnight. KeyCorp jumped +9.1% to be the leading performer in the S&P 500 following news that Bank of Nova Scotia (down -3.42%) acquired a 14.9% stake in the bank for US$2.8B. Starbucks Corp rose +2.58% after The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)reported that hedge fund Starboard Value has taken a stake in the world's biggest coffee chain and was calling for changes. The WSJnoted that the move came as Starbucks is in settlement discussions with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which it previously reported had taken a large stake in the company and also called for changes. Albemarle Corp shed -6.92% to be the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 as the world's biggest lithium producer continues to feel the negative effects of slumping lithium prices (which have slumped more than >80% since the start of 2023).

US equity markets logged modest gains on Friday (9 August) and continued to mount a comeback that saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq all but erase Monday’s (5 August) rout that saw both indices register their sharpest daily losses since 13 September 2022 - Dow edged +51-points or +0.13% higher, with American Express Co (up +1.85%), Apple Inc (+1.37%) and Salesforce Inc (+1.37%) all rising over >1%. Intel Corp shed -3.81% to be the worst performer in the Dow last Friday (9 August).

US equity markets rallied sharply amid a broad-based rally that saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq record their strongest session since 30 November, 2022 after the latest weekly jobless claims figures soothed nerves in some quarters around the strength of the labour market - Dow gained +683-points or +1.76%, logging its strongest session since 16 July.

The broader S&P500 rallied +2.3%. Information Technology rallied +3.31% to lead all eleven primary sectors higher, six of which logged gains of more than >2%. Palantir Technologies jumped +11.25 after the company announced an agreement with Microsoft Corp (+1.07%) to provide the U.S. government with secure cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and analytics capabilities for national security. The agreement provides the U.S. government agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with large language models (LLMs) through Azure OpenAI Services, Microsoft's cloud offerings through its partnership with OpenAI, and Palantir's AI Platform (AIP). Warner Bros. Discovery Inc shed -8.95% after the entertainment giant posted a loss of nearly -US$10B for the second quarter after the close of the previous session.

US equity markets retreated, relinquishing earlier session gains and capping the worst 5-day start to a month for the Dow and S&P 500 since January 2016 - Dow fell -234-points or -0.60%,. Intel Corp fell -4.24% following a fresh broker downgrade (with analysts at Mizuho Securities cutting their recommendation to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Outperform’ and writing of “a tough road ahead to regain leadership”), extending the semiconductor company’s 5-day slide to -43.6%.

The broader S&P500 lost -0.77%, with Consumer Discretionary (-1.39%), Materials (-1.39%), Information Technology (-1.36%) and Health Care (-1.07%) all declining over >1% to lead seven of the eleven primary sectors lower. Super Micro Computer Inc tumbled -20.14% after the artificial intelligence (AI) server company – and a customer and close partner of Nvidia Corp (-5.12%) – reported its fiscal fourth-quarter result after the close of the previous session as the cost of transitioning to more expensive AI chips weighed on the bottom line.

US equity markets rebounded amid a broad-based recovery a day after the Dow and S&P 500 registered their sharpest daily losses since 13 September 2022 - Dow rose +294-points or +0.76%, clawing back some of the previous session’s -1,033.99-points or -2.6% tumble.
The broader S&P500 +1.04%, with Real Estate (up +2.3%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher.  Palantir Technologies Inc jumped +10.38% after reporting a better-than-expected second quarter result and lifted its full-year guidance on strong demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) after the close of the previous session. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd rallied +7.51% after JPMorgan analysts labelled the company  “best in class” among the cruise lines and raised their full year earnings per share (EPS) forecast to US$11.50 from US$11.43.

US equity markets extended their steep declines to cap their worst three-day performance since 2022, with the Dow and S&P 500 registering their sharpest daily losses since 13 September 2022 - Dow tumbled -1,033.99-points or -2.6% to 38,703.27, with all 30 components settling in the red. Intel Corp (down -6.38%) was the worst Dow performer overnight. Apple Inc (down -4.82%) continued to slide after Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway Inc (down -3.34%) halved its stake in the technology giant and boosted its cash pile to a record high of US$277M, according its second-quarter financial results released on Saturday (3 August),
Markets have become increasingly concerned following last Friday’s (2 August)  non-farm payrolls report for July that the Federal Reserve may be moving too slow when it comes to interest rate cuts if it wants to avoid a recession. Indeed, some analysts are now calling for ‘emergency’ rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Also a lot of talk around the unwinding of the Yen carry trade triggered by the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) unexpected rate hike on Wednesday last week (31 July),

US equity markets tumbled for a second straight session after a weak jobs report further stocked fears of a recession – Dow fell -611-points or -1.51%. Intel Corp tumbled -26.06% after the chipmaker announced a wider-than-expected quarterly loss after the close of last Thursday’s (1 August) session and said it would lay off 15% of its staff as part of a massive cost-cutting effort. Amazon.com Inc -8.78% after the e-commerce giant reported weaker-than-anticipated quarterly revenue and issued soft guidance for the current quarter after the close of the previous session.


The broader S&P500 dropped -1.84% to 5,346.56, with 74% of index components settling in the red. The index settled 5.66% below its 16 July closing high (5,667.20). It marks the 29th correction of great than >5% off of a high since the March 2009 low.

US equity markets logged sharp declines amid a fresh sell off for the technology sector and following the release of some weak economic data - Dow fell -495-points or -1.21%, paring an earlier decline of ~744 points.
The broader S&P500 dropped -1.37%, with Information Technology falling -3.36% and handing back much of the previous session’s +3.95% rally.

Energy (down -2.56%) and Consumer Discretionary (-2.25%) both fell over >2% to be among six of the eleven primary sectors that settled in the red.

The more defensive Utilities (up +1.85%) and Real Estate (+1.58%) sectors sat atop the primary sector leaderboard overnight.
The Nasdaq -2.3%. Nvidia Corp fell -6.67%.

US equity markets retreated, with chip stocks under particular pressure ahead of earnings from a number of large capitalisation technology companies - Dow gained +203-points or +0.50%, with Travelers Companies Inc (up +3.03%), and investment banks Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+2.63%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (+2.06%) leading the 30-stock index’s advance.

US equity markets settled little changedahead of a defining week that sees 171 S&P 500 companies post second quarter results (including ten (10) Dow components and four (4) of the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’ of large capitalisation technology stocks) along with key global central bank meetings and the latest Non Farm payrolls report - Dow slipped -49-points or -0.12%, with Caterpillar Inc (down -1.7%), Intel Corp (-1.66%), 3M Co (-1.57%) and Salesforce Inc (-1.57%) all falling over >1.5%.

US equity markets soared on Friday (26 July) to cap a turbulent week, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapping three session losing streaks as the technology sector recovered, corporate earnings news provided a big boost to several companies and inflation data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates soon - Dow rallied +654-points or +1.64%, American Express Co (up +2.38%), with Travelers Companies Inc (+2.21%), Salesforce Inc (+2.%) and Visa Inc (+2.35%) all rising over >2%The broader S&P500 gained +1.11%, with Industrials (up +1.72%), Materials (+1.68%), Real Estate (+1.67%) and Financials (+1.49%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite retreated for a third straight session amid a fresh rotation out of large cap technology into small capitalisation and value stocks - Dow added +81-points or +0.20% but settled well off its session highs. International Business Machines (IBM) Corp climbed +4.33% and was the leading performer in the 30-stock index. Boeing Co (up +2.38%), Caterpillar Inc (+2.46%) and Salesforce Inc (+2.7%) all rallied over >2%. Microsoft Corp shed -2.45%.

US equity markets settled with modest declines as investors digested a busy corporate earnings calendar and eyed second quarter results from the first of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” of large capitalisation technology stocks after the closing bell - Dow slipped -57-points or -0.14%. Walt Disney Co (down -.39%) was the worst performer in the 30-stock index, while McDonald’s Corp (-2.12%), Nike Inc (-1.95%) and Chevron Corp (-1.85%) were also notable underperformers. Boeing Co (up +4.24%) was the best performing Dow component overnight after receiving an additional airplane order from Qatar Airways.

Technology stocks led a rebound on US equity markets following steep losses last week - Dow added +128-points or +0.32%, with Nike Inc (up +2.97%) and Salesforce Inc (+2.6%) both gaining over >2.5% to be the leading performers in the 30-stock index.
The broader S&P500 gained +1.08%, logging its best session since 5 June as more than >77% of index constituents advanced. Information Technology (up +1.96%), Communication Services (+1.21%) and Industrials (+1.07%) all rose over >1% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors higher. Energy (down -0.72%) and Consumer Staples (-0.04%) were the only primary sectors to settle in the red overnight. Reddit Inc gained +5.3% after the social media company announced partnerships with the NBA, NFL, and other major U.S. sports leagues that will give its users access to official highlights and other content. CrowdStrike Holdings Inc slumped -13.46% to be the worst performer in the S&P 500 for a second session running as the fallout after from an update to the cybersecurity firm's software that caused a global outage in Microsoft Corp’s (-0.74%) cloud services late last week continued.

US equity markets retreated on Friday (19 July) as technology stocks came under fresh pressure and investors digested the impact of a global technology outage - Dow dropped -377-points or -0.93%, extending its decline over the past two sessions to over >900 points or ~2.2%. Intel Corp shed -5.42% to be the worst performer in the 30-stock index on Friday (19 July).

The broader S&P500 fell -0.71%, with Energy (down -1.29%), Information Technology (-1.27%) and Financials (-1.00%) all fell 1%+ to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. Health Care (up +0.50%) and Utilities (+0.11%) were the only primary sectors to advance.  Starbucks Corp rallied +6.85% after the Wall Street Journal reported that activist investor Elliott Management has taken a significant stake in the global coffee chain and is engaging with management to find ways to improve the company’s share price.

US equity markets retreated amid fresh weakness for a number of large capitalisation technology companies and as the rally among small capitalisation stocks stalled - Dow dropped -533-points or -1.29%, having logged consecutive record closing highs. Investment banks Goldman Sachs Group Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co both fell -3.18% to be the worst performers in the 30-stock index overnight. Amazon.com Inc (down -2.22%) and Apple Inc (-2.05%) both fell over >2%.

The broader S&P500 fell -0.78% Healthcare (down -2.29%) leading ten of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy (up +0.33%) was the only primary sector to advance overnight. Eli Lilly & Co fell -6.26%, extending the previous session’s -3.8% decline amid concerns about intensifying competition among obesity-drug developers. Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG announced positive early-stage trial data for its experimental obesity pill a day earlier. Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk A/S fell -3.48%., taking its two-day slide to almost 9%.

US equity markets rallied as the rotation into value stocks, which have underperformed their growth peers and the broader S&P 500, gained momentum amid building expectations of interest rate cuts - Dow rallied +743-points or +1.85% to a fresh record closing high of 40,954.48, booking its largest one-day percentage gain since June 2023, and largest daily point gain since November 2022, according to Dow Jones Market data. The Dow Jones transportation average (up +3.28% at 16,298.98) outperformed the broader indexes, logging its biggest one-day percentage gain since November and reaching its highest closing level since August 2023 as investors increasingly focused on undervalued areas of the market. Caterpillar Inc (up +4.28%) and Boeing Co (+3.87%)

US equity markets opened the new week on a positive footing- Dow gained +211-points or +0.53% to record closing high of 40,211.72  - the first record close for the 30-stock index since 17 May and 20th this year. American Express Co (up +2.25%), Caterpillar Inc (+3.03%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (+2.49%) all climbed over >2%.
The broader S&P500 added +0.28% to 5,631.22, touching a fresh record intra-day peak (5,666.94). Energy (up +1.56%) and Financials (+1.42%) lead six of the eleven primary sectors higher. Utilities (down -2.39%) sat at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard overnight.

US equity markets advanced on Friday (12 July), rebounding from the previous session’s sell-off albeit finished off their best levels of the session that saw all three benchmark indices more than >1% higher - Dow rallied +247-points or +0.62% to 40,000.90, touching a fresh record all time intra-day high of 40,257.24. International Business Machines (IBM) Corp (up +2.53%) and Intel Corp (+2.96%) both rose over >2.5% to be the leading performers in the stock index.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapped a seven-session winning streak and logged their worst single session declines since 30 April as investors digested the latest inflation figures that triggered a rotation out of large capitalisation technology stocks - Dow edged +32-points or +0.08% higher, with Home Depot (up +2.79%) the leading performer n the 30-stock index. However, Intel Corp slumped -3.93%, while Amazon.com Inc (down -2.37%) and Apple Inc (-2.32%) and Microsoft Corp (-2.48%) all fell over >2%.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended their respective rallies into a seventh consecutive session, boosted by the continued strong performance of technology stocks and recording a fresh round of record peaks that lifted the S&P 500 above >5,600 for the first time - Dow rose +429-points or +1.09% to 39,721.36, marking the 30-stock index’s best single session advance since 31 May.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaqedged higher to fresh record closing peaks, extending gains that have been fuelled by the strong performance of technology stocks and hopes the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates soon- Dow eased -53-pointsor -0.13%, with Dow Inc (down -2.31%), Microsoft Corp (-1.44%) and Salesforce Inc (-1.77%) among the key index drags.  Intel Corp (up +1.77%) booked a five-session winning streak, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+1.72%) also rose over >1.5%. Apple Inc added +0.38% to a fresh record closing high of US$228.68 that lifted the company’s market capitalisation above >US$3.5 trillion. Amazon.com Inc inched +0.03% higher, with founder and executive chair Jeff Bezos selling s further US$863.5M in stock. A filing after the market close last Tuesday (3 July) disclosed the proposed sale of 25M shares (or almost US$5B), which would still leave Mr Bezos owning an ~8.8% stake.

US equity markets opened the week with modest gains, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh record closing highs - Dow slipped -31-points or -0.08%. Nike Inc (down -3.16%) was the worst performer in the 30-stock index, while Salesforce Inc (-2.21%) and Visa Inc (-1.46%) were also notable underperformers. Intel Corp soared +6.15% to be the leading Dow component overnight. Boeing Co rose +0.55% despite news the aircraft manufacturer had agreed to plead guilty to a charge of defrauding the federal government over the 2018 and 2019 crashes of a pair of 737 Max planes that killed more than 300 people. The company will pay another US$243.6M in fines, and be required to spend ~US$455M on its safety and compliance programs over the next three years while facing a three-year probationary period where it will be monitored by a government-appointed compliance monitor.

Earnings for S&P 500 companies are forecast to grow 8.8% year-on-year in the second quarter according to FactSet, which would mark the highest year-over-year earnings growth rate reported by the index since the first quarter of 2022 (when earnings grew 9.4%).

US equity markets advanced as Treasury yields retreated, lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to back-to-back record closing highs in an abbreviated trading session ahead of the Independence Day holiday - Dow slipped -24-points or -0.06%, with healthcare stocks trailing the broader market. UnitedHealth Group Inc fell -1.68%, while Merck & Co Inc lost -1.46% and Amgen Inc -0.45%. Salesforce Inc (up +1.86%) was the leading performer in the 30-stock index.

US equity markets rallied, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closing above the 5,500 and 18,000 milestones respectively for the first time ever - Dow rose +162-points or +0.41%.
The broader S&P500 gained +0.62% to 5,509.01, logging its 32nd record close of 2024. Consumer Discretionary (up +1.81%) and Financials (+1.10%) rose over >1% and led ten of the eleven primary sectors higher. However, Health Care (down -0.40%) extended losses into a sixth straight session, the sector’s longest losing streak since January 2022. Tesla Inc jumped +10.20% to US$231.26 to be the best performer in the S&P 500 for second session running and log it highest close since 10 January after the electric-vehicle giant stronger-than-expected second quarter deliveries.

US equity markets advanced to kick off the second half of 2024, with the Nasdaq climbing to a fresh record high - Dow edged +51-points or +0.13% higher, with Merck & Co Inc (up +3.31%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index. Boeing Co rose +2.58% after announcing a long-awaited deal to reacquire parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (+3.35%). UnitedHealth Group Inc (down 2.87%) and Home Depot Inc (-2.34%) were the worst performing Dow components overnight.

US equity markets relinquished early gains that saw both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq touch fresh record intra-day highs to close out the month, quarter and half with a whimper on Friday (28 June) - Dow slipped -45-points or -0.12%. Nike Inc tumbled -19.98% recording its largest single session percentage decline on record after reporting a disappointing fourth quarter result and cutting full year guidance after the close of the previous session that prompted multiple broker downgrades. Boeing Co (down -.27%) will be charged with fraud by the US Justice Department, according to a Bloomberg report that was published over the weekend. The decision comes after the Justice Department said Boeing violated the terms of a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement in May.

US equity markets ended relatively unchanged as investors await fresh inflation data and what comes of the presidential debate scheduled for today- Dow rose +36 points or +0.09% to 39,164. Walgreens Boots Alliance slumped -22.16% after cutting its 2024 profit forecast and announcing plans to close more underperforming US stores. Nike shares were down -6% in extended trading, reporting its slowest annual sales growth in 14 years, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic, citing a slowdown in lifestyle stales, among other factors such as losing market share to start-ups On Running and Hoka.

US equity markets closed with modest gains after a choppy trading session, with investors holding their cards close to their chest ahead of a presidential debate and an inflation report closely watched by Federal Reserve policy makers - Dow rose +16.10 points or +0.04%, to 39,128.26.

 
The broader S&P500 +0.16% to 5,477.91. Shares of major US banks including Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Bank of America have been boosted by the results of the Fed’s annual banking sector stress test with each of the 31 banks absorbing losses while maintaining capital requirements in an environment assuming 10% unemployment, commercial real estate values plunging 40% and housing prices falling -36%.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapped three session losing streaks as Nvidia Corp (+6.76%) arrested a 3-day slide saw the chip giant enter official correction territory less than a week after hitting a record all time high - Dow dropped -299-points or -0.76%, snapping a five session winning streak and booking its worst single session decline since 30 May. Home Depot Inc fell -3.58% amid a broader sell-off of stocks exposed to the U.S. housing market. Boeing Co lost -2.23% following a Bloomberg report it had altered its offer to reacquire supplier Spirit AeroSystems (-3.96% to US$31.76) from an all-cash to all-stock offer that valued the target at US$35 per share.

US equity markets logged modest declines on Friday (21 June) as semiconductor stocks retreated for a second straight session - Dow inched +16-points or +0.04% higher, with Intel Corp (up +1.53%) and Nike Inc (+1.68%) rising over >1.5%. Boeing Co edged +0.15% higher amid reports it was nearing a deal to acquire supplier Spirit AeroSystems (+6%). Apple Inc dropped -1.04%, falling in the final minutes of the session - possibly a byproduct of Friday night AEST’s triple witching (the simultaneous expiration of stock options, stock index futures, and stock index options contracts) or a sizeable rebalancing of the US$70B Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (down -1.72%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (-1.19%) were both under pressure after the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve Board on Friday (21 June) said they have found “shortcomings” in the so-called living wills of four of the eight largest U.S. banks. Since the 2008 financial crisis and the Dodd-Frank legislation to shore up the U.S. banking system, big banks have been required to file living wills with regulators to lay out plans for an orderly bankruptcy. Meanwhile, New York Fed's Liberty Street Economics blog cautioned last Thursday (20 June) that the big US banks face growing spillover risks from non-banks that could trigger "vectors of shock transmission and amplification, forcing authorities to intervene and do so en masse," the post said, adding that the disruptions "could be rather severe."

US equity markets retreated as last week’s artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor sell-off continued amid some tentative signs of a change in market leadership - Dow rose +261-points or +0.67%, with Amgen Inc (up +3.24%),  Chevron Corp (+2.60%) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+2.65%) all gaining over >2.5%.  Apple Inc added +0.31% despite the iPhone maker being charged by the European Union for failing to comply with a new digital-competition law. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple has held discussions with Meta Platforms Inc (+0.83%) about potentially integrating Meta’s generative AI model into Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI strategy for iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

US equity markets mixed after resuming trading following the Juneteenth holiday, with semiconductor stocks weighing on the Nasdaq - Dow gained +300-points or +0.77%. Salesforce Inc (up +4.31%) and Chevron Corp (+2.2%) were the leading performers in the 30-stock index. Amazon.com Inc +1.8% as Anthropic, the OpenAI competitor it backs, unveiled a more advanced version of its Claude chatbot.

US equity and bond markets were CLOSED overnight AEST in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day.
 In US economic data, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index for June. A preliminary reading of Building Permits for May, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for June, and the latest weekly jobless claims figures are released tonight AEST.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq booked fresh record closing highs ahead of the Juneteenth public holiday. The Dow edged +57 points or +0.15% higher. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (up +1.61%), Verizon Communications Inc (+1.57%), Home Depot Inc (+1.25%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (+1.04%) all rising over >1%. Boeing Co lost -1.91% as outgoing CEO David Calhoun called the company culture “less than perfect” in Senate testimony related to the jet maker’s manufacturing and safety standards.

US equity markets rallied, buoyed by fresh gains for the technology sector - Dow rose +189-points or +0.49% to snap a four session losing streak, with Apple Inc (up +1.97%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index after scrapping its “buy now, pay later” service, which it launched in the US only last year. The tech giant says it is pivoting to a new instalment loans service offered through third-party credit and debit cards. Merck & Co rose over >1% in after-hours trading (having declined -0.94% in the regular session) after receiving US regulatory approval for its next-generation vaccine (Capvaxive) to protect adults from pneumococcal disease, which is set to challenge Pfizer Inc’s (down -2%) blockbuster Prevnar shot

US equity markets settled mixed on Friday (14 June) to close out a big week of inflation updates and Federal Reserve interest rate forecasts, with the technology sector powering to fresh records - Dow fell for a fourth straight session, easing -58-points or -0.15%. Caterpillar Inc (down -1.50%) and Dow Inc (-1.86%) both fell 1.5%+ to be the worst performers in the 30-stock index on Friday (14 June).

US equity markets logged modest gains, with fresh gains for technology stocks lifting the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to their fourth consecutive record close - Dow eased -65-points or -0.17%, with Salesforce Inc (down -2.87%) and Amazon.com Inc (-1.64%) the worst performers in the 30-stock index. Boeing Co fell -1.08% said it has found improperly torqued fasteners on some of its undelivered 787 Dreamliners, the latest in a series of quality problems. The fastener problem does not make the wide-body plane unsafe to fly, and it has not stopped delivering the aircraft to customers. Apple Inc rose +0.55% to US$214.24, lifting the company’s market capitalisation to US$3.285 trillion to usurp Microsoft Corp (+0.12%, market cap US$3.282 trillion) as the most valuable US company. Apple hadn’t closed with a market cap above Microsoft’s since 24 January, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted record closing highs for a third straight session, buoyed by a softer-than-expected consumer inflation reading for May and signs that Federal Reserve officials could start to cut interest rates this year - Dow slipped -35-points or -0.09%. Apple Inc gained +2.86%, logging a record closing high (US$213.07) for a second straight session and settled US$12B shy of Microsoft Corp (+1.94%) in market capitalisation terms. Caterpillar Inc added +0.43% the board of the manufacturer of construction and mining equipment approved an additional US$20B in share buybacks and raised its dividend (by +US$0.11c to US$1.41). Nike Inc fell -2.28% after a European court dismissed its bid to trademark the term “Footware,” a portmanteau combining “foot” and “software” or “hardware.”

US equity markets ticked higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logging fresh record closing highs ahead of US inflation figures and the Federal Reserve’s latest monetary policy decision later in the week - Dow added +69-points or +0.18%. Walmart Inc gained +1.64%, buoyed by an upgrade from analysts at Bank of America, who cited the potential benefits from “a new wave of tech diffusion.”   Apple Inc shed -1.91% after the company’s latest Worldwide Developers Conference(WWDC)kicked off overnight (running through until Friday night AEST (14 June)) with a with a demonstration of Apple Intelligence, the tech giant's highly anticipated custom artificial intelligence (AI) system built into the newest iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems.

US equity markets settled little changedahead of the release of the key non-farm payrolls figures tonight AEST - Dow added +79-points or +0.20%, with Amazon.com Inc (up +2.05%) and Salesforce Inc (+2.63%) rising over >2%.

The broader S&P500 dipped -0.02%, with Utilities (1.03%), Industrials (-0.60%) and Information Technology (-0.47%) settling in the red.  Consumer Discretionary (up +0.97%) and Energy (+0.55%) both climbed over >0.50%. PayPal Inc rallied +5.49%, logging its largest single-day percentage increase since 19 January, after striking a bullish tone at an investor conference and as investors become more positive on the company’s new Fastline product.  Uber Technologies Inc gained +4.68% after competitor Lyft Inc (+1.03%) offered an optimistic forecast for future bookings at its first investor day.

US equity markets rallied, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting fresh record highs after several pieces of economic data pointed to a slowing U.S. economy, raising hopes for interest rate cuts later this year - Dow added +96-points or +0.25%. Intel Corp rose +2.50% after announcing after the close of the previous session that it would sell a 49% stake in Irish manufacturing venture Fab34 to Apollo Global Management for US$11B. The investment is part of Intel's "Smart Capital" strategy, its plan to revitalize and expand its supply chain without putting too much strain on its own balance sheet by bringing in outside investments. Intel will retain a 51% controlling stake in the Fab 34 facility.

US equity markets edged higher after fresh job openings data suggested the labour market continued to cool in April - Dow gained +140-points or +0.36%. Cisco Systems Inc rose +1.65% after it launched a US$1B fund to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) startups. Intel Corp fell -0.86% slipped 0.9% after unveiling its next-generation Xeon 6 AI data centre chips at the Computex trade fair in Taipei alongside other leading chipmakers. The next-generation chips come in two types: a more powerful processor to handle the workload of larger AI infrastructure requirements, and an efficiency model, which the company has positioned as a replacement for earlier-generation chips.

US equity markets mostly firmer to open the week, with technology stocks underpinning the gains - Dow fell -197-points or -0.49%. JPMorgan Chase & Co dropped -4.50% after Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jamie Dimon hinted during the bank’s annual investment meeting that he was preparing to retire after nearly 20 years at the helm of America's largest bank. Mr Dimon also said the bank would not repurchase shares at their current levels. Microsoft Corp gained 1.22% after the technology giant unveiled a new line of personal computers equipped with artificial-intelligence (AI) chips and the company’s CoPilot AI software.

US equity markets ticked higher as investors digested results from retailers and eyed the released of semi-conductor giant Nvidia Corp’s (up +0.64%) first quarter result after the closing bell tonight AEST - Dow edged +66-points or +0.17% higher. International Business Machines (IBM) Corp rose +2.09%after it said it was expanding several artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships with companies including Meta Platforms Inc (down -0.90%) and Salesforce Inc (-1.15%). Microsoft Corp added +0.87% to US$429.04 to close just cents shy of a record high after it unveiled new tools to develop AI software during the first day of its Microsoft Build developer conference.

US equity markets settled with modest gains on Friday (17 May), with the Dow closing above the 40,000 mark for the first time - Dow rallied +134-points or +0.34% to 40,003.59 a day after briefly topping the 40,000 mark for the first time in its 128-year history. It has taken 874 trading days for the 30-stock index to climb from 30,000 (which it steeled above on 24 November, 2020) to 40,000.