US equity markets recorded their steepest declines in two months to open the new trading week as investors eye the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium later this week and worry that the Federal Reserve may strike a more hawkish tone - Dow fell -643-points or -1.91%, The broader S&P500 shed -2.14%, with Consumer Discretionary (-2.84%), Information Technology (down -2.78%), and Communication Services (-2.67%) all dropping over >2.5% to lead all eleven primary sectors lower. Both the Dow and S&P500 logged their steepest single session declines since 16 June. The Nasdaq dropped -2.52%, recording its largest single session fall since 28 June. Netflix Inc dropped -6.06% after analysts at CFRA downgraded the streaming giant, noting that a key catalyst for the company - introducing new ad-pay subscription plans – “may not be visible until 2023.” The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%.

US equity markets retreated on Friday (19 August), with the recent rebound faltering as interest rate hike fears resurfaced ahead of the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium that begins on Thursday night AEST (25 August) - Dow fell -292-points or -0.86%, The broader S&P500 lost -1.29%, with Consumer Discretionary (-2.10%) and Financials (2.02%) both falling over >2% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors lower, Information Technology (-1.83%) was also a major drag. Health Care (+0.27%) and Energy (+0.02%) were the only primary sectors to advance. General Motors Co rose +2.53% after it said it would reinstate quarterly dividend payouts. Occidental Petroleum Corp jumped more +9.88% after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc received regulatory approval (after filing an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on 11 July) to buy to half of the oil company. Berkshire currently owns 188.5M shares of Occidental, equal to a 20.2% position. It surpassed a key threshold where Berkshire could record some of the oil company’s earnings with its own, potentially adding billions of dollars in profit. The Nasdaq -2.01%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -2.17%. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc tumbled -40.54% after Bloomberg reported that some suppliers are restricting or halting shipments altogether after the home-goods retailer fell behind on payments. The report came after GameStop Corp Chairman Ryan Cohen disclosed in a filing after the close of last Wednesday’s (17 August) session that he’s planning to sell his big stake in the company just months after he bought it.

US equity markets eked out modest gains, turning positive in the final hour of the session as investors assessed mixed signals from several Federal Reserve officials on the potential pace of interest rate increases on deck for September - Dow inched +19-points or +0.06% higher. The broader S&P500 rose +0.23%, with Energy (up +2.53%) and Information Technology (+0.49%) leading seven of the eleven primary sectors higher. The Nasdaq added +0.21%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.68%. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc fell -19.63% (and dropped more than >44% in extended trading) after GameStop Corp Chairman Ryan Cohen disclosed in a filing after the close of the previous session that he’s planning to sell his big stake in the company just months after he bought it.

US equity markets retreated but settled off their worst levels of the session as investors digested the latest central bank monetary policy meeting minutes - Dow fell -172-points or -0.50%, paring an earlier decline of as much as -324-points but snapping a five session winning streak. The broader S&P500 -0.72% at 4,274.04, with Communication Services (down -1.85%), Materials (-1.40%) and Consumer Discretionary (-1.12%) all declined over >1% to lead ten of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy (up +0.81%) was the only primary sector to advance overnight. The index challenged its 200-day moving average (~4,326) for the first time since April. The Nasdaq dropped -1.25%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 shed -1.64%. ‘Meme’ stock Bed Bath & Beyond Inc extended its meteoric rise, up a further +11.77% overnight. However, the retailer fell over >16% in extended trading after activist investor Ryan Cohen said in a filing he intends to sell his entire stake in the company through his firm RC Ventures.

US equity markets mixed as investors weighed a pair of strong corporate results from major retailers Walmart Inc and Home Depot Inc against the backdrop of a slowdown in the housing market - Dow gained +239-points or +0.71% to 34,152.01, reclaiming the 34,000 level for the first times since 4 May as it extended its rally into a fifth straight session. The broader S&P500 edged +0.19% higher, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd gained +3.99% even after the company refinanced with a new batch of junk bonds yielding more than 11%. The Nasdaq slipped -0.19%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 dipped -0.04%. ‘Meme’ stock Bed Bath & Beyond Inc continued to soar, rising +29.01% after another wild session that saw the company’s free float turn over 6.5 times during the session.

US equity markets advanced, shrugging off some underwhelming economic data out of China - Dow gained +151-points or +0.45%, its fourth consecutive session gain and longest winning streak since its six session strong of gains that ended 27 May. The 30-stock index also closed above its 200-day moving average for the first time since 20 April. The broader S&P500 rose +0.40%, with Consumer Staples (up +1.05%) and Utilities (+0.81%) leading nine of the eleven primary sectors higher. Energy (down -1.96%) sat at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard, with Exxon Mobil Corp down -1.79%, Chevron Corp -1.90% and Marathon Oil Corp -2.78%. Tesla Inc rose +3.1%, with Chief Executive Elon Musk tweeting that the electric-vehicle maker has produced more than >3M vehicles, with a third of them made in China. The Nasdaq climbed +0.62%. Apple Inc (up +0.63%) may expand its advertising to more of its first-party apps on the iPhone in an effort to boost revenue, according to Bloomberg. The company generates ~US$4B in annual revenue from its ad business but wants to grow the segment into the “double digits,” according to the report. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 added +0.23%. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc soared +23.55% as the Reddit crowd that made it a meme stock again embraced it. Volume of 127M shares traded was more than eight times the 65-day average of 15m shares per day. The stock has been rallying amid with no real news, but participants on Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum were celebrating the gains. The stock, which has been shorted by many large funds, is up ~200% so far this month.

US equity markets rallied into the close of Friday’s (12 August) session to cap another strong week - Dow gained +424-points or +1.27%, The broader S&P500 rallied +1.73% to 4,280.15. The S&P 500 crossed a closely watched technical level of 4,231 points during last Friday’s (12 August) session, meaning the benchmark index has recouped half its losses since tumbling from its all-time closing peak (4,796.56) set on 3 January. A 50% retracement for some signals a bull market. All 11 primary sectors S&P 500 advanced on Friday (12 August), with Consumer Discretionary (up +2.30%), Information Technology (+2.07%) and Communication Services (+2.02%) all rising over >2%. The Philadelphia Semiconductors Index (+2.99%) and Dow Jones Transport Average (+0.49%) also advanced. The S&P500 Growth Index (up +2.06%) outperformed the S&P500 Value Index (+1.41%). The Nasdaq climbed +2.09% to 13,047.18. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 also gained +2.09%.

US equity markets erased earlier session gains to settle with modest losses, running out of steam in the closing hour of trading despite another reassuring inflation report - Dow edged +27-points or +0.08% higher. Walt Disney Co gained +4.68% after the media and entertainment giant reported its second quarter result after the close of the previous session, adding more streaming subscribers than expected and announcing plans to launch an ad-supported tier while increasing prices on its current offerings before the end of the year. Investment banks Goldman Sachs Group Inc (up +1.08%) and JPMorgan Chase & Co (+1.48%) also continued to trade strongly. The broader S&P500 dipped -0.07%, with the more defensive sectors (Health Care down -0.71%, Real Estate -0.55%) among the key underperformers overnight. Energy (up +3.19%) sat atop the primary sector leaderboard following a strong session on crude markets. Heal The Nasdaq lost -0.58%. Bloomberg reported late in the session that Apple Inc (down -0.44%) is requesting that its suppliers "build at least as many" of the company's new iPhones as they did last year. The report said that Apple also continues to expect suppliers to build ~220M total iPhones for the year, which is roughly equal to last year's figure as well. Bloomberg noted that the report suggested confidence on the part of Apple executives that the company would be able to withstand economic challenges and still drive strong demand for its devices. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.31%.

US equity markets rallied after a softer-than-expected inflation report prompted investors to dial back their forecasts on the scale of further interest rate hikes in September - Dow gained +535-points or +1.63%, exiting official correction territory. The broader S&P500 +2.13% to 4,210.24, settling +14.8% above its mid-June low. Materials (up +2.88%), Consumer Discretionary (+2.87%), Information Technology (+2.77%) and Communication Services (+2.77%) all climbing over >2.5%. All eleven primary sectors advanced, with six sector logging gains of over >2%. Tesla Inc gained +3.89% despite filings on Tuesday (9 August) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealing that Elon Musk had sold ~7.9M shares between Friday (5 August) and Tuesday at prices ranging from US$838.57 to US$911.75 - ~US$6.88B in total. In a tweet, Mr Musk indicated he was done selling, adding: “In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don’t come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.” Last week, Tesla shareholders approved plans for a 3-for-1 stock split, which will take place 24 August. Trading will begin on a stock split-adjusted basis on 25 August, the company said in a regulatory filing. The Nasdaq rallied +2.85% to 12,854.80, exiting official bear market territory after 107 trading sessions. The technology-centric index is up 20.75% from its 2022 closing low of 10646.10 hit on 16 June, 2022. Meta Platforms Inc rose +5.82% after the Facebook-parent said that it had raised US$10B in its first-ever bond offering. Apple Inc (up +2.62%), Alphabet Inc (+2.63%) and Amazon.com Inc (+3.53%) all rose more than >2%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 jumped +2.95%.

US equity markets weaker ahead of the release of key inflation figures tonight, and with semiconductor stocks under fresh pressure - Dow eased -58-points or -0.18%, The broader S&P500 lost -0.42%, Consumer Discretionary (down -1.54%), Information Technology (-1.00%) and Communication Services (-0.72%) leading seven of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy (up +1.77%) and Utilities (+1.06%) both rose over >1%. The Nasdaq fell -1.19%. Micron Technology Inc fell -3.74% the memory-chip maker cut its fourth-quarter revenue forecast and warned of a negative free cash flow in the following quarter as demand for chips used in personal computers and smartphones drop. Heavyweight peers Nvidia Corp (down -3.49%) and Advanced Micro Devices (-4.53%) shed ~4% apiece, extending sharp losses from the previous session following a revenue warning from Nvidia. The broader Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (down -4.57%) has declined ~7% in the last three sessions. Separately, President Joe Biden signed a landmark bill – the bipartisan Chips and Science Act - to provide US$52.7B in subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production and research and to boost efforts to make the United States more competitive with China's science and technology efforts. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -1.46%. U.S. vaccine maker Novavax Inc slumped -29.64% after it halved its annual revenue forecast as it does not expect further sales of its COVID-19 shot this year in the US amid a global supply glut and soft demand.

US equity markets mixed, relinquishing earlier session gains as investors eye a pair of inflation reports later in the week - Dow added +29-points or +0.09%, paring an earlier rally of as much as +306-points. The broader S&P500 slipped -0.12%, with Information Technology (down -0.88%) the key drag and among four of the eleven primary sectors to settle in the red. Real Estate (up +0.70%) and Materials (+0.55%) both rose over >0.5%. The Nasdaq -0.10%. Nvidia Corp dropped -6.30% after the semiconductor company disclosed that it expects to fall well short of revenue expectations for its latest quarter, largely due to gaming weakness (with revenue for this sector expected to fall -33% from a year earlier to US$2.04B and versus consensus US$3.04B). The company expects fiscal second-quarter revenue of US$6.7B, up from US$6.5B a year earlier, but short of both current consensus analyst forecasts, and the chipmaker’s own forecast for US$8.1B. The company also anticipates US$3.81B in data-centre revenue, up +1% sequentially and 61% ahead of what the company posted a year earlier, but slightly below current consensus of US$3.99B. Executives noted that while the data-centre total marked a record, it came up “somewhat short of the company’s expectations, as it was impacted by supply chain disruptions.” Nvidia is slated to report its second quarter result on 24 August. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 outperformed with a +1.01% gain. In merger and acquisition (M&A) news, Global Blood Therapeutics gained +4.32% after Pfizer Inc (+0.61%) agreed to purchase the company that has one of the few approved treatments for sickle-cell disease for US$5.4B (US$68.50 per share). The acquisition continues a string of deals for Pfizer, which is flush with cash from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and drug and which has said wants to add US$25B in revenue from business-development moves like M&A by 2030. Signify Health Inc jumped +10.97% following a report from The Wall Street Journal that CVS Health (down -0.25%) was planning to make a bid for the healthcare platform.

US equity markets a little weaker on Friday (5 August) after a solid July jobs report undermined recent optimism that the Federal Reserve might let up its aggressive campaign to reign in decades-high inflation - Dow added +77-points or +0.23%, JPMorgan Chase & Co (up +3.03%) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+0.84%) The broader S&P500 slipped -0.16%, with Consumer Discretionary (down -1.66%) leading six of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy (up +2.04%) returned to the top of primary sector leaderboard. Tesla Inc fell -6.63%, with shareholders at last Thursday’s (4 August) Annual General Meeting (AGM) approving a proposal expected to lead to a 3-for-1 stock split and sided with the company on most of the proposals up for a vote. The Nasdaq fell -0.5%. Meta Platforms Inc fell -2.03% and Amazon.com Inc -1.25%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.81%. Carvana Co soared +40.07% following the used car group’s second quarter result after the close of last Friday’s (5 August) session.

A mixed session on US equity markets ahead of the key monthly jobs report tonight AEST - Dow eased -86-points or -0.26%, The broader S&P500 dipped -0.08%, Consumer Discretionary (up +0.54%) and Information Technology (+0.42%) leading seven of the eleven primary sectors higher. The Nasdaq added +0.41% to a fresh 3-month high of 12,720.58, with Amazon.com Inc (up +2.19%) and Advanced Micro Devices (+5.93%) notable performers. Energy (down -3.60%) was the worst performing sector for a second consecutive session. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%. Coinbase Global Inc jumped +10.01% after it announced a tie-up with BlackRock (+0.79%) to provide its institutional clients access to crypto trading and custody services.

Positive corporate earnings releases set a strong tone on US equity markets overnight, lifting the benchmark indices solidly across-the-board - Dow up +416-points or +1.29% to 32,812.50, settling ~9.8% above its 52-week closing low (29,653.29) hit on 17 June. The broader S&P500 +1.56%, Information Technology (up +2.69%), Consumer Discretionary (+2.52%) rising over >2.5% to lead ten of the eleven primary sectors higher. Energy (down -2.97%) was the only primary sector to close in the red. The Nasdaq rallied +2.58%. PayPal Holdings Inc rallied +9.52% after it raised its full year earnings guidance after the close of the previous session, announced a new US$15B share-buyback authorisation, a cost-savings program, and confirmed activist investor Elliott Management had acquired an over >US$2B stake in the financial technology firm. Apple Inc (3.82%) and Amazon.com Inc (+4.01%) both climbed over >3.5%, while Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc (+5.37%) gained over >5%. There were reports that Meta may become the latest technology company to turn to the bond markets in a bid to raise capital. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are now up ~13% and ~19% respectively from their mid-June lows. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.41%.

US equity markets fell as investors eyed US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and the latest commentary from Federal Reserve officials - Dow fell -402-points or -1.23%, The broader S&P500 lost -0.67%, with Real Estate (down -1.30%), Financials (-1.07%), Industrials (-1.05%) and Materials (-1.01%) all falling over >1% to lead all eleven primary sectors lower. The Nasdaq slipped -0.16%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 dipped -0.05%. Pinterest Inc jumped +11.61% as activist investor Elliott Investment Management become the largest shareholder of the digital pin-board firm.

US equity markets opened August with modest declines, with all three benchmark indices snapping a three session winning streak - Dow fell -47-points or -0.14%, Boeing Co rallied +6.13% to lead Dow gainers after the aerospace and defence giant reportedly cleared a hurdle with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that could allow it to resume deliveries of its 787 airliner. The FAA said it would approve Boeing’s process for validating fixes to each 787 plane before they are delivered to customers, according to an Associated Press report. Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing’s defence manufacturing plants will vote on Wednesday (3 August) on a labour contract proposal, which temporarily delays a strike that was scheduled to begin as soon as Monday. The broader S&P500 -0.28%, with Energy (down -2.18%) leading seven of the eleven primary sectors lower. Chevron Corp fell -2.00% and ExxonMobil Corp -2.53%. Consumer Staples sat atop the primary leaderboard with a +1.21% gain. The Nasdaq -0.18% despite a solid session for chipmakers, with Advanced Micro Devices Inc up +2.45% ahead its quarterly result tonight AEST, Intel Corp +1.79%, Micron Technology Inc +1.10% and Nvidia Corp +1.53%. Apple Inc (down -0.62%) raised US$5.5B via the issuance of four series of bonds with ratings of AAA from Moody’s Investors Service and AA+ from S&P Global. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.10%. Automotive oil, additives and lubricant maker Valvoline Inc (down -2.70%) it has reached an agreement with Saudi Arabian Oil Co (Aramco) to sell its global products business for US$2.65B in cash.

US equity markets extended their July rebound, with the benchmark indices logging their biggest monthly gains since 2020 - Dow rose +316-points or +0.97%, The broader S&P500 +1.42%, with Energy (up +4.51%) and Consumer Discretionary (+4.27%) rose over >4% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors higher on Friday (29 July). Consumer Staples (down -0.72%) and Health Care (-0.35%) were the only primary sectors to settle in the red. The Nasdaq +1.88%. Amazon.com Inc jumped +10.36% after forecasting higher third quarter revenue amid higher fees from its Prime loyalty programmes after the close of the previous session. Apple Inc rose +3.28% after delivering fiscal third quarter sales and earnings per share (US$1.20 versus consensus US$1.16) after the close of last Thursday’s (28 July) session that were a touch ahead of Wall Street estimates, underpinned by strength in iPhone sales. Intel Corp dropped -8.56% after the chipmaker’s second quarter earnings undershot consensus forecasts by a wide margin and the company cut its full year outlook after the closing bell of the previous session. Listed chipmaking peer Advanced Micro Devices gained +3.05% to lift its market capitalisation (US$153B) above Intel Corp (US$148B) The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.65%.

US equity markets extended their rebound, with both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P500 booking their highest closes in nearly seven weeks - Dow rose +332-points or +1.03% to 32,529.63. The broader S&P500 gained +1.21% to 4,072.43, with Real Estate (up +3.7%) and Utilities (+3.53%) rallying over >3.5% to lead ten of the eleven primary sectors higher (after being relative underperformers in the preceding two sessions). Communication Services (down -0.74%) was the only primary sector to settle in the red. The Nasdaq +1.08%. Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc fell -5.22% after the social media giant reported disappointing second-quarter results after the closing bell of the previous session accompanied by a third-quarter outlook that was markedly below Wall Street estimates. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.34%.

US equity markets rallied strongly as investors digested the latest monetary policy pronouncements from the Federal Reserve and another busy night on the US corporate earnings calendar - Dow gained +436-points or +1.37%. Walmart Inc rebounded +3.8% The broader S&P500 rallied +2.62%, with Communication Services (up +5.11%), Information Technology (+4.29%) and Consumer Discretionary (+3.85%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. More defensive sectors underperformed for a second session running, with Utilities adding +0.11% and Real Estate +0.55%.The Nasdaq soared +4.06% to 12,032.42, logging its best daily rise since April 2020. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 gained +2.39%. The overnight gains also marked the biggest rally on a Fed decision day since December 2008, the day the Fed slashed its benchmark interest rate target to between 0% and 0.25% for the first time in history.

US equity markets weaker on the eve of the latest monetary policy decision and pronouncements from the Federal Reserve, and amid a flood of corporate earnings releases - Dow fell -229-points or -0.71%, Walmart Inc fell 7.60% after the big box retailer downgraded its fiscal second quarter and full year profit guidance after the close of the previous session, citing the impacts of inflation. The broader S&P500 -1.15%, with Consumer Discretionary (down 3.31%) as Walmart’s result weighed on the sector, leading eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. Target Corp dropped -3.6%, Kohl’s Corp -9.12% and Nordstrom Inc -5.78%. Shopify Inc tumbled -14.06% after the payments provider announced it’s laying off ~10% of its global workforce, citing a pullback in online spending and saying it misjudged how long the pandemic-fueled e-commerce boom would last. The e-commerce retailer releases its quarterly result tonight AEST. More defensive sectors outperformed, with Utilities up +0.61% and Health Care +0.55%. The Nasdaq -1.87%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.69%

A mixed trading session on Wall Street left both the Dow and S&P500 nursing modest gains and settle higher for the fourth session in the past five ahead of the busiest week of the second quarter US corporate earnings calendar - Dow added -91-points or +0.28%. Chevron Corp was the best performing index constituent overnight. Walmart Inc fell over >9.5% in extended trading (after dipping -0.14% in the regular session) after the big box retailer downgraded its fiscal second quarter and full year profit guidance, citing the impact of inflation The company now expects adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to fall between 8% and 9% for the second quarter and between 11% and 13% for the full year. Boeing Co fell -0.96%, with workers expected to go on strike on 1 August at three plants in the St. Louis area after they voted to reject a contract offer from the plane maker. The broader S&P500 edged +0.13% higher, with Energy (up +3.71%) leading eight of the eleven primary sectors higher. Consumer Discretionary (down -0.85%) and Information Technology (-0.61%) were the worst performing primary sectors overnight. Tesla Inc fell -1.40% after the electric vehicle maker disclosed in its latest first quarter filing that it received a second subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asking the company to provide information on its “governance processes around compliance with the SEC settlement” related to Chief Executive Elon Musk’s 2018 tweet about taking the company private at US$420 a share. The Nasdaq fell -0.43%, Amazon.com Inc (down -1.05%), Google-parent Alphabet Inc (0.14%) and Microsoft Corp (-0.59%) all a touch weaker ahead of their results tonight AEST. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.60%. All of the benchmark indices remain on track for their best monthly performance calendar year-to-date.

US equity markets retreated on Friday (22 July), with a soft second quarter result from Snap Inc (down -39.08%) – including its weakest ever quarterly sales growth as a public company - after the close of last Thursday’s (21 July) session rattled investors in social media and advertising technology companies - Dow fell -138-points or -0.43%, The broader S&P500 lost -0.93% to 3,961.63, unwinding an earlier rally that saw the index briefly climb above >4,000 for the first time since 9 June. Communication Services (down -4.34%) and Information Technology (-1.38%) were the worst performing primary sectors and led eight of the eleven primary sectors lower, while more defensive sectors outperformed. Utilities rose +1.37%, Real Estate +0.79% and Consumer Staples +0.69%. The Nasdaq dropped -1.87% ahead of a big week of earnings for the technology sector. Meta Platforms Inc fell -7.59% and Alphabet Inc Inc -5.81%, weighed down by Snap’s result. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%.

US equity markets climbed to their best levels in six weeks as some solid corporate earnings releases bolstered sentiment (albeit there were some soft results after the closing bell) and investors continued to pivot back towards the technology sector. Investors also largely shrugged off news that President Biden had contracted COVID - Dow gained +162-points or +0.51%. The broader S&P500 rose +0.99%, with Consumer Discretionary (+2.25%) among the best performing primary sectors for a third straight session and leading nine of the eleven primary sectors higher. Energy (down -1.69%) was the worst performing primary sector overnight. Tesla Inc jumped +9.78%, climbing for a seventh straight session after reporting impressive second quarter earnings against the backdrop of a challenging operating environment (that included COVID-related lockdowns in China that constrained production) after the closing bell of the previous session. Ford Motor Co rose +2.2% after Bloomberg reported that the automaker plans to cut thousands of workers to give it a leg up in the race to win a bigger share of the market for electric vehicles. United Airlines Holdings Inc fell -10.17% after falling short of Wall Street estimates for the second quarter after the close of Wednesday’s (20 July) session. The Nasdaq outperformed for a third consecutive session, rising +1.36%. It marked the first time since late May that the technology-centric index has advanced by 1% or more for three consecutive sessions. Meta Platforms Inc fell over >4.5% in after hours trading (after edging +0.04% higher in regular trading) The small capitalisation Russell 2000 added +0.48%.

US equity markets advanced, consolidating the strong gains of the previous session as “growth” sectors outperformed - Dow added +48-points or +0.15%, Walt Disney Co gained +3.75%, tracking Netflix Inc (up +7.35%) higher after the streaming giant forecast a return to customer growth during the third quarter after the close of the previous session, while posting a smaller-than-forecast -1M drop in subscribers in the second quarter. The broader S&P500 gained +0.59%, with Consumer Discretionary (+1.77%), Information Technology (+1.56%), Energy (+1.02%) and Communication Services (+1.01%) all rising over >1% to lead seven of the eleven primary sectors higher. More defensive sectors underperformed, with Utilities down -1.36% and Health Care -1.06%. Carnival Corporation fell over >8.5% in extended trading (following a +7.05% advance in the regular session) after the cruise operator announced it intends to sell at least US$1B in fresh stock, with underwriter Goldman Sachs potentially selling up to US$150M more. The company said it intends to use the proceeds for "general corporate purposes, which could include addressing 2023 debt maturities." The Nasdaq +1.56% to log its fourth positive session in five, with technology megacaps Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp gaining +3.86% and +1.06% respectively. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.59%.

US equity markets rallied strongly overnight following some strong corporate earnings releases - Dow rallied +754-points or +2.43%, the largest single session gain since 24 June. However, International Business Machines (IBM) Corp fell -5.25% after the software giant trimmed its 2022 free cash flow guidance after the releasing its second quarter result after close of the previous session. The broader S&P500 gained +2.76%, with Communication Services (up +3.63%), Industrials (+3.58%), Energy (+3.16%), Materials (+3.11%), Consumer Discretionary (+3.09%), Information Technology (+3.08%) and Financials (+3.07%) all gaining over >3% to lead al eleven primary sectors higher. The S&P500 has rebounded ~7.4% from its 16 June closing low. The Nasdaq jumped +3.07%, with Apple Inc (+2.67%) and Google parent Alphabet Inc (+4.29%) rebounding solidly. All three major averages are above their 50-day moving averages for the first time since April. The Russell 2000 soared +3.50%, marking the strongest daily advance for the small capitalisation index since 6 January, 2021.

US equity markets faded in the closing couple of hours of the session, unwinding an earlier rally after Bloomberg reported that Apple Inc (down -2.06%) plans to slow hiring and spending growth in some divisions next year in anticipation of a potential economic downturn - Dow fell -216-points or -0.69%, unwinding an earlier rally of as much as +356-points. Boeing Co slipped -0.01% finished marginally despite the aerospace and defence giant confirming that Delta Air Lines Inc (up +3.49%) would order 100 of its 737-10 jets as the air carrier modernizes its single-aisle fleet. The broader S&P500 lost -0.84%, with the more defensive Health Care (down -2.15%) and Utilities (-1.40%) leading eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy was the leading primary sector overnight with a +1.96% advance. Tesla Inc edged +0.2% higher after Deutsche Bank added the company to its short-term buy list, citing the potential for the electric vehicle maker to exceed Wall Street expectations when it reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday night AEST (20 July). The Nasdaq -0.84%. Google parent Alphabet Inc fell -2.46%, with the internet giant’s 20-for-1 stock split that was first announced on 1 February taking effect after the close of last Friday’s (15 July) session. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 eased -0.34%.

US equity markets rebounded strongly on Friday (15 July) to cap another tumultuous week, with both the S&P 500 and the Dow both snapping five-day losing streaks following a brace of solid economic data and corporate earnings releases - Dow rallied +658-points or +2.15%, UnitedHealth Group Inc (up 5.84%), JPMorgan Chase & Co (+4.58%) and American Express Co (+4.40%). The broader S&P500 +1.92%, with Financials (up +3.51%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. The Nasdaq +1.79%. Meta Platforms Inc (+4.21%), Salesforce Inc (+3.94%)and Amazon.com Inc (+2.64%). The small capitalisation Russell 2000 jumped +2.16%. For the week, the Dow booked a small weekly loss of -0.16%, while the S&P 500 fell -0.93% and the Nasdaq -1.57%.

US equity markets retreated but settled well of their session lows, with the second quarter bank earnings season kicking off and as the stronger-than-expected consumer price inflation (CPI) report released a day earlier continued to reverberate - Dow fell -143-points or -0.46%, recovering from a steeper decline of -628-points. UnitedHealth Group Inc added +0.24% ahead of the release of the company’s quarterly result tonight AEST. The broader S&P500 -0.30%, extending losses into a fifth consecutive session. Financials (down -1.92%), Energy (-1.90%) and Materials (-1.89%) all fell ~1.9% to lead eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. Information Technology sat atop the primary sector leaderboard overnight with a +0.93% gain. The Nasdaq inched +0.03% higher after a mixed performance from the big technology names, with Apple Inc up +2.05% and chipmaker Nvidia Corp +1.37%. Meta Platforms Inc fell -3.33% and Salesforce Inc -1.50%. Both the S&P500 and Nasdaq rebounded from earlier session declines of over >2%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -1.07%.

US equity markets retreated as investors digested the June consumer inflation report, with the Dow and S&P500 extending declines into a fourth consecutive session - Dow fell -209-points or -0.67%, paring a morning session decline of over >450-points. Boeing Co (down -2.17%), Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (-1.92%) and UnitedHealth Group (-2.56%) were among the key drags on the index. The broader S&P500 lost -0.45%, recovering from an earlier fall of over >1.5%. Industrials (down -1.20%) and Communication Services (-1.07%) both fell over >1% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. Consumer Discretionary (+0.86%) and Consumer Staples (+0.01%) were the only primary sector to settle in positive territory overnight. The Nasdaq settled -0.15% lower having fallen over >2% earlier in the session. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 slipped -0.12%.

US equity markets weaker ahead of tonight’s AEST June consumer price inflation figures, with losses accelerating in the final hour of trading - Dow fell -193-points or -0.62%. The broader S&P500 lost -0.92%, with the Energy sector (down -2.03%) leading all eleven primary sectors lower. The Nasdaq -0.95%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 eased -0.22%.

US equity markets retreated following news that China is imposing more COVID-related restrictions and as second quarter corporate earnings and inflation data later this week looms large - Dow fell -164-points or -0.52% after briefly popping into positive territory in early afternoon trade. Walt Disney Co (down -2.32%) and Nike Inc (-2.61%) were at the forefront of the 30-stock indice’s decline. The broader S&P500 shed -1.15%, with the Communication Services (down -2.80%) and Consumer Discretionary (2.76%) both down over >2.5% to lead nine of the eleven primary sectors higher. The more defensive Utilities (up +0.64%) and Real Estate (+0.01%) sectors were the only primary sectors to advance. Casino operators with operations in Macau were under pressure after Macau city officials said casinos there would be shut down for a week to fight a COVID-19 surge. Wynn Resorts Ltd fell -6.46%, Las Vegas Sands Corp, and Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd -9.64%. The Nasdaq dropped -2.26%. Apple Inc and Tesla Inc – whose combined market capitalisation of just over >US$3 trillion accounts for over >16% of the Nasdaq’s aggregate market capitalisation – fell -1.5% and -6.6% respectively. Amazon.com Inc fell -3.28% ahead of its annual northern summer savings event Amazon Prime Day, kicking off tonight AEST. Twitter Inc tumbled -11.3% as the fallout continued from Elon Musk’s announcement after the closing bell last Friday (8 July) that he was terminating his deal to buy the social media company, citing contractual breaches. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -2.11%.

US equity markets ended the week on a mixed note as investors pondered the implications of another strong monthly jobs report - Dow slipped -46-points or -0.15%, The broader S&P500 dipped -0.08%, snapping a four session winning streak (the indice’s best winning stretch since late March), with the Materials sector (down -1.00%) leading nine of the eleven primary sectors lower. Healthcare (up +0.27%) and Information Technology (+0.07%) were the only two primary sectors to advance. The Nasdaq added +0.12%, extending the technology-centric index’s rebound into a fifth straight session, its longest winning streak since November. Tesla Inc rose +2.27% after the company shipped a record 78,906 vehicles in China in June, according to China Passenger Car Association data. Tesla’s best month before that was December 2021, when wholesale deliveries topped 70,800. Tesla shipped ~113K vehicles from its Shanghai plant in the second quarter, down ~38% from 182,174 in the first quarter and illustrating the impact COVID-19 has had on recent results. Year to date, Tesla’s share of Chinese wholesale new energy vehicles (NEV) shipments - a category that includes plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles - is down to ~12% from 15% in the first half of 2021. Twitter Inc fell -5.1% (and was down a further -4.81% in extended trading) following a Washington Post report that reported that Elon Musk was planning to back out of his takeover offer for the social media company. Confirmation came after the market close in a filing reporting that the Tesla Chief Executive’s lawyers had sent a letter to Twitter terminating the deal, saying the social media company had “not complied with its contractual obligation” and asserting that it breached terms of the agreement by refusing to provide detailed information about fake accounts on the site. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 dipped -0.01%.

US equity markets advanced, with the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq Composite booking a fourth day in a row of gains - their longest unbroken advance since March – ahead of tonight’s June jobs report - Dow gained +347-points or +1.12%, The broader S&P500 +1.50%, with Energy (up +3.51%) returning to the top of the primary sector leaderboard. Chevron Corp rose +1.95%, Exxon Mobil Corp +3.19% and Occidental Petroleum Corp +3.99%. Consumer Discretionary (up +2.48%) and Information Technology (+2.06%) both rose over >2%, with ten of the eleven primary sectors advancing. Utilities (down -0.10%) was the only primary sector to settle in the red. The Nasdaq rallied +2.28%. Chipmaker Micron Technology Inc (up +2.58%), Advanced Micro Devices Inc (+5.24%) and Nvidia Corp (+4.81%) traded strongly, buoyed by South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co (+3.19%) posting its best April-June profit since 2018, driven by strong memory chip sales to server customers. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 gained +2.43%.

US equity markets settled with modest gains as investors digested the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s mid-June monetary policy meeting that saw central bank officials reiterate their resolve to aggressively tackle inflation - Dow added +70-points or +0.23%, The broader S&P500 gained +0.36%, with Utilities (up +1.01%) and Information Technology (+0.88%) leading eight of the eleven primary sectors higher. Energy dropped -1.74% to sit at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard for a second straight session. The Nasdaq rose +0.35%. Microsoft Corp rose +1.28% despite the Associated Press reporting that its acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc (down -0.63%) will face antitrust scrutiny in the U.K., after regulators said Wednesday (6 July) they opened an initial inquiry into the US$69B deal. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.79%.

US equity markets settled mostly firmer after resuming trading following the Independence Day holiday long weekend, staging a sharp intra-day rebound - Dow fell -129-points or 0.42%, paring an earlier decline of more than >700-points. The broader S&P500 edged +0.16% higher, rebounding from an earlier slump of over >2%. Communication Services (up +2.66%) and Consumer Discretionary (+2.28%) both gained over >2%, while Information Technology rose +1.24% to be the only three primary sectors to advance. Energy dropped -4.01% to sit at the foot of the primary sector leaderboard, with Chevron Corp down -2%. Ford Motor Co fell -1.06% despite the automaker reporting a +31.5% year-on-year jump in second quarter sales (to 152,262 vehicles), bucking the -11% decline in overall industry sales, as Ford's U.S. market share improved to 12.9%. The Nasdaq rallied +1.75% after opening the session sharply lower, with Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc gaining +5.10%, Amazon.com Inc +3.60% and Google-parent Alphabet Inc +4.16%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +0.79%. There were reports that the Biden administration may roll back tariffs imposed on some Chinese goods, potentially helping to crimp inflation imported into the U.S.

Oil prices logged modest losses - WTI lost -US$0.32c or -0.3% to US$108.11/barrel. Brent eased -US$0.35c or -0.3% to US$111.28/barrel. In broader energy market moves, natural gas prices in Europe surged on Monday (4 July) to their most expensive since the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as proposed strikes in Norway increased fears about inadequate supply. August natural gas futures on the Dutch-based TTF trading hub at one point rose more than >10% to change hands above >€160 a megawatt-hour. A year ago the product traded for €22.4. The ICE U.K. Natural Gas contract jumped +20% to 289.29 pence per British thermal unit , compared to 93.12p per British thermal unit months ago. There were reports that industrial action by workers would see six Norwegian natural gas fields shut down over the next few days, potentially cutting the major exporter’s supply by 13%. Elsewhere, the head of Germany’s regulatory agency for energy, Federal Network Agency President Klaus Mueller, called on residents Saturday (2 July) to save energy and to prepare for winter, when use increases. Mr Mueller said families should start talking now about “whether every room needs to be set at its usual temperature in the winter - or whether some rooms can be a little colder.” Separately, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the country should be prepared to cut further Russian gas supplies as President Vladimir Putin adopts a conscious strategy of raising prices to undermine European unity, and warned utilities are at risk of cascading failures, which may require activating a legal clause that would allow them to pass on price increases outside of contract commitments. Mr Halbeck said Germany refrained from activating the measure for now because it would lead to an “immediate price explosion” for consumers. The government is working on an alternative, he said, without elaborating.

US equity markets advanced on the first day of the third quarter ahead of the 4 July holiday long weekend, with both the S&P500 and Nasdaq snapping a four-session losing streak - Dow rose +322-points or +1.05%. The broader S&P500 gained +1.06%, with Utilities (up +2.48%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. General Motors Co rose +1.35% despite the automaker warning of a second-quarter earnings shortfall, as vehicle wholesale volumes were hurt by the timing of semiconductor shipments and other supply chain disruptions. GM expects net income for the quarter to 30 June to be between US$1.6B and US$1.9B, well below current consensus analyst forecasts of US$2.46B. However, the company affirmed its full-year outlook (for net income of US$9.6B to US$11.2B) as the supply disruptions are expected to be temporary. The Nasdaq +0.9%. Meta Platforms Inc closed down -0.76% following news that it’s cutting its hiring plans for engineers as it prepares for a potential downturn. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg said “one of the worst downturns we’ve seen in recent history” is ahead, according to a recording heard by Reuters. Tesla Inc (up +1.24%) disclosed on Saturday (2 July) that sales of cars and SUVs fell -18% in the second quarter to 254,695 (versus consensus expectations for 256,250), snapping a two year streak of gains and marking their lowest quarterly level since last the third quarter of 2021 as supply-chain issues and pandemic restrictions in China hobbled production of its electric vehicles. Tesla delivered 310,048 vehicles in the first quarter of 2022 and 201,250 vehicles in the second quarter of 2021. Tesla is slated to release its second quarter result on 20 July. Micron Technology Inc fell -2.95% after the chipmaker provided a weak fourth quarter outlook after the closing bell of last Thursday’s (30 June) session. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%. Retailer Kohl’s Corp slumped -19.63% after confirming a CNBC report that it had ceased talks with Franchise Group, saying that the retail environment has worsened since bidding began. Kohl’s also cut its outlook for the current quarter. US equity and bond markets are CLOSED tonight AEST for the Independence Day holiday.

US equity markets weaker, with the S&P500 cementing its worst first half in more than 50 years - Dow -351-points or -1.13%, with Salesforce Inc (down -3.26%) and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (-7.27%) the two worst performing index components overnight. The broader S&P500 fell for a forth consecutive session, down -0.63%. Energy (down -2.05%), Communication Services (-1.56%) and Consumer Discretionary (-1.54%) all fell over >1.5% to lead eight of the eleven primary sectors lower. More defensive sectors outperformed for a second straight session, with Utilities up +1.10%. Carnival Corp fell -2.48%, a day after tumbling -14.13% after Morgan Stanley cut its price target on the stock roughly in half and said it could potentially go to zero in the face of another demand shock. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd fell -3.08% and -3.89% respectively. American Airlines Group Inc (down -2.69%) has offered its pilots pay raises totalling nearly 17% under a new contract, according to an internal video seen by CNBC. The latest proposal to the pilots’ union, the Allied Pilots Association, comes less than a week after rival United Airlines Holdings Inc (-0.73%) and its pilots’ union reached a tentative agreement that includes more than 14% in total raises over the next 18 months. The technology-centric Nasdaq dropped -1.85%. Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc (down -1.64%) has warned employees to expect a tough second half of the year as the company continues to weather challenges related to its core online advertising business amid a weakening economy. Meta chief product officer Chris Cox detailed the company’s financial dilemma in an internal memo that detailed key areas where the social media giant plans to invest, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. The memo was previously reported by Reuters. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.66%. High-end furniture chain RH fell -10.56% after it issued a profit warning for the full year.

US equity markets closed narrowly mixed , with the S&P500 on track to close out its worst first half of the year since 1970 - Dow added +82-points or +0.27%, The broader S&P500 slipped 0.07%, with the Energy sector (down -3.43%) the worst performing primary sector after being the leading sector for the preceding two session. More defensive sectors outperformed overnight, with Healthcare up +0.87% and Consumer Staples +0.49%. Carnival Corp tumbled -14.13% after Morgan Stanley cut its price target on the stock roughly in half and said it could potentially go to zero in the face of another demand shock. The call dragged other cruise stocks lower, with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Norwegian falling -10.26% and -9.33% respectively. The Nasdaq dipped -0.03%. Chipmakers led declines after Bank of America downgraded several chip stocks due to rising competition. Advanced Micro Devices fell -3.45%, Micron Technology Inc -3.18% and Teradyne Inc -5.23%. However, Amazon.com Inc gained +1.4% after JPMorgan reiterated its overweight rating on the stock. Meta Platforms rose +2.03%, Apple Inc +1.30% and Microsoft Corp +1.47%.The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -1.12%.

US equity markets retreated following some weak consumer confidence data, and as oil prices climbed for a third day - Dow down -491-points or -1.56%, The broader S&P500 shed -2.01%, with Consumer Discretionary (down -4.03%) and Information Technology (-3.01%) leading ten of the eleven primary sectors lower. Energy sat atop the primary sector leaderboard for a second consecutive session with a +2.70% gain. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc said it had acquired an additional 794,389 shares in Occidental Petroleum Corp (up +4.77%), lifting the conglomerate’s stake to ~16.4%. The Nasdaq dropped -2.98%. Qualcomm Inc (up +3.48%) bucked the weaker trend after a prominent analyst (Ming-Chi Kuo at TF International Securities) said Apple Inc (-2.98%) is likely to use the company’s 5G modems for its 2023 iPhones rather that relying on technology built in-house. All three benchmark indices booked their worst daily percentage declines since 16 June, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%.

US equity markets settled with modest losses to open the new week following a strong rebound last Friday (24 June), shrugging off some better-than-expected economic data - Dow eased -62-points or -0.20%. Boeing Co fell 1.99% following a pair of reports appearing to question the safety of 737 MAX jets, including by Australia’s taxpayer-funded broadcaster that cited “at least six mid-air emergencies” and various other problems experienced by MAX jets since the planes were recertified to fly. The problems were pulled from publicly available databases maintained by the U.S. government. The broader S&P500 lost -0.30%, with Consumer Discretionary (down -1.09%) and Communication Services (-1.05%) leading the decline. Energy returned to the top of the primary sector leaderboard with a +2.78% rally. The S&P 500 is up more than >7% since hitting a bear-market low in mid-June, although the benchmark is down 19% from its high and 18% lower since the year began. The Nasdaq fell -0.72%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 added +0.34%.

US equity markets rebounded strongly, with all three benchmark indices snapping three-week losing streaks as investors reassessed the expected path of Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes - Dow rallied +823-points or +2.68% to 31,500.68, climbing back above >31,000 and recording its largest daily percentage gain since 4 May. FedEx Corp gained +7.16% after the global delivery and logistics company reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that matched Wall Street’s expectations and issued guidance for the fiscal year that topped projections after the close of last Thursday’s (23 June session. The broader S&P500 gained +3.06%, logging its best daily percentage gain since 18 May, 2020. Materials (up +3.98%), Communication Services (+3.94%), Financials (+3.80%), Consumer Discretionary (+3.74%) and Information Technology (+3.57%) all rallying over >3.5% and leading all eleven primary sectors higher. Shares in the biggest U.S. banks climbed on Friday (24 June) a day after it was confirmed they had all passed the Federal Reserve's annual health check. JPMorgan Chase & Co rose +2.98%, Citigroup Inc +3.26% and Wells Fargo & Co +7.55. The Nasdaq jumped +3.34%, the technology-centric indice’s largest daily percentage gain since 13 May. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rallied +3.16%.

US equity markets advanced after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell concluded a second day of congressional testimony with a vow to battle inflation, even if it risks a recession - Dow up +194-points or +0.64% and settling near its session highs at 30,677.36. The broader S&P500 +0.95%, with more defensive sectors like Utilities (up +2.35%), Health Care (+2.22%) and Real Estate (+2.01%) atop the primary sector leaderboard for a second consecutive session. Energy (down -3.74%) was the worst performing primary sector for a second day running. Occidental Petroleum Corp added +0.57% as Berkshire Hathaway Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Warren Buffett increased his firm’s stake in the oil-and-gas company by 9.6M shares or US$529M in June, according to regulatory filings cited by The Wall Street Journal, lifting the holding to ~16%. The Nasdaq +1.62%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.27%.

US equity markets logged modest losses, unwinding earlier gains in the final hour of trading as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest congressional testimony - Dow eased -47-points or 0.15%. Dow Inc sank -4.75% to US$52.34 and its lowest levels since early 2021 after analysts at Credit Suisse cut their rating on the specialty chemicals company to “Underperform” (reducing the target price to US$49), citing concerns that the business could continue to struggle as supply chains normalise. The broader S&P500 slipped -0.13%, with Energy (down (-4.19%) leading seven of the eleven primary sectors lower. Real Estate (up +1.55%) and Health Care (+1.42%) were the best performing primary sectors. The Fed release its latest bank stress test results tonight AEST. The Nasdaq -0.15%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.22%.

US equity markets resumed trading following the holiday long weekend on the front foot, with all three benchmark indices rallying over >2% following a strong session for both value and growth stocks as risk assets bounced back - Dow gained +641-points or +2.15%, The broader S&P500 rose +2.45% to log its best single session advance month-to-date and after logging its worst weekly decline since 2020 last week, with the Energy sector (up +5.14%) returning to the top of the primary sector leaderboard and leading all eleven primary sectors at least +1.5% higher. Exxon Mobil Corp gained +6.22%, buoyed by an upgrade to “Outperform” from “Neutral” from Credit Suisse. Last night’s session marked the first time since May that both S&P 500 Value and S&P 500 Growth indexes gained more than >2% on the same day, and only the third time since 2020 that both indexes rallied as much. 441 stocks in the S&P500 advanced. Tesla Inc rallied +9.35% after Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musk told Bloomberg that job cuts at the company would result in a reduction of as much as 3.5% of the electric vehicle maker’s total head count. Twitter Inc rose +3.07% after Mr Musk told an audience at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha that he would be “driving the product” at Twitter, while reiterating that he does not necessarily want to serve as CEO after he completes the acquisition of the social media company. Kellogg Co rose +1.95% after the food company announced a plan to split into three businesses - "Global Snacking Co", which will represent ~US$11.4B in sales and include international cereal and noodles, North American frozen breakfast, as well as snacks; "North America Cereal Co", which represents ~US$2.4B in sales and includes U.S., Canada, and Caribbean cereals; and "Plant Co", a business of ~US$340M anchored by the MorningStar Farms brand and focused on plant-based foods. The Nasdaq rallied +2.51%, with Goggle-parent Alphabet Inc rising +3.85%, Apple Inc +3.28% and Amazon.com Inc +2.32%. Chipmakers also traded strongly, with Advanced Micro Devices Inc climbing +2.72%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.70%.

AUD - buying ~69.51 US cents. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) release the minutes from its June monetary policy meeting that saw the central bank hike rates +50-basis points, while RBA Governor Philip is scheduled to deliver a speech titled “Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy”. The Bank of Japan (BoJ) release the minutes of their June monetary policy meeting that saw the central bank stand firm on its ultra-loose monetary policy prescription last Friday (17 June). Elsewhere, there were reports this morning that Qantas Airways has lifted the passenger mask mandate for non-stop, outbound flights to the US and UK.

US equity markets closed out a turbulent week on mixed note, leaving both the Dow and S&P500 nursing their worst weekly performance sine 2020 - Dow eased -38-points or -0.13% to 29,888.78 after sliding below 1%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 gained +0.96%. Friday (17 June) was a “quadruple witching” session, the simultaneous expiration of stock index futures, single-stock futures, stock options and stock index options.

US equity markets fell sharply, more than erasing the bounce recorded the previous session following the Federal Reserve’s largest rate hike since 1994, as concerns about the economic outlook returned to centre stage - Dow dropped -741-points or -2.4% to 29,927.07, sliding below 4%, with all eleven primary sectors closing in the red. Tesla Inc fell -8.54% after the electric vehicle maker hiked prices again on all its US models as it battles rising aluminium costs and the global supply chain crisis. The Dow and S&P 500 booked their lowest settlements since December 2020. The technology-centric Nasdaq slumped -4.1% to log its lowest close since September 2020. Amazon.com Inc (-3.72%), Apple Inc (-3.97%) and Netflix Inc (-3.75%) all sank nearly 4%. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk held a question and answer session with Twitter Inc (down -1.66%) staff, pitching a vision of a one-billion-user platform (versus the current user base of ~229M) but providing no fresh updates on his US$44B deal. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -4.70%.