US equity markets resumed trading following the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, with investors’ attention remaining keenly focussed on developments in the Middle East - Dow inched +35-points or +0.08% higher. Apple Inc rose +2.25% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index and buck a weaker trend among the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’, with reports emerging executives have held internal talks about potentially bidding for artificial intelligence (AI) startup Perplexity AI. If regulators order Apple to end its partnership with Google, purchasing Perplexity would make it easier for the company to develop an AI-based search engine. The Bloomberg report came after CNBC confirmed on Friday (20 June) that Meta Platforms Inc (down -1.93%) approached Perplexity AI about a potential takeover bid before ultimately investing $14.3B into Scale AI. Microsoft Corp eased -0.59% to US$477.40 after touching a fresh record intra-day high (US$483.46). Amazon.com Inc lost -1.33% after the news that the UK's Groceries Code Adjudicator has opened a formal investigation over concerns that the retail giant may have breached rules requiring timely payments to suppliers.