US equity markets posted modest gains, losing some steam in the final minutes of the session - Dow edged +23-points or +0.09% higher, paring an earlier +110-point rise. The broader S&P500 rose +0.28% to 2,997.95 to close within 1% of its 26 July record closing high of 3,025.86. The NASDAQ gained +0.41%. Netflix Inc rose +2.5% after posting a solid third quarter result in the previous session.

China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday (17 October) that China hoped to reach a phased agreement with Washington as early as possible, and make progress on canceling tariffs on each others’ goods.