The S&P 500 in the US rose 2.5% last week, its best weekly performance in almost three months. That wasn’t enough to see the US market finish August in the green, however, with the index ending 1.8% lower for its first negative month since February. The local NZX 50 increased a more modest 0.5%, as investors digested a cautious reporting season and looked ahead to the election with some trepidation. It will be a holiday-shortened week in the US, with markets closed for Labor Day on Monday. Investors will be watching to see how Chinese markets respond to further efforts from policymakers to stimulate the economy and support the troubled property sector. On the central banking front, we'll hear from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Canada, while here in New Zealand the results of the latest global dairy auction will be closely watched.