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US equity markets rallied, buoyed by fresh signs of progress between the US and China on the trade front - Dow up +228-points or +0.85% (to 27,137.04) to log its first six session winning streak since June and close above the >27,000 mark for the first time since 30 July. The index also now sits within 1% of its record all time high (27,398.68) struck on 16 July. The broader S&P500 +0.72% (to 3000.93) to close above >3,000 and also move within 1% of its record high (3,027.98) set on 26 July. The NASDAQ climbed +1.06% (to 8,169.68) and marked its best close since 31 July. Apple Inc gained +3.2% and reclaimed its status as trillion US dollar company a day after the company unveiled new iPhones, Apple Watches and an iPad, as well as new details about its subscription TV service Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade.

US markets little changed although value stocks significantly outperformed their growth counterparts for a second consecutive session - Dow rose +74-points or +0.28% to extend its winning streak into a fifth consecutive session. The broader S&P500 inched +0.03% higher, Ford Motor Co fell -1.26%^ after ratings agency Moody's downgraded the auto maker’s credit rating to junk status, citing below-expectations profit margins and cash flow. The NASDAQ dipped -0.05%. Apple Inc rose +1.18% as it kicked off its annual fall product launch, where the company unveiled new iPhones, Apple Watches and an iPad, as well as new details about its subscription TV service Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Apple announced that Apple TV+ will launch in November and will be free for a year for customers who buy a Mac, iPhone or Apple TV. The announcement weighed on Netflix Inc (down -2.16%), Walt Disney Co (-2.19%) and Roku Inc (-10.49%). Facebook Inc (down 1.1%) and Amazon.com Inc (-0.60%) were also key drags on the Nasdaq. President Trump abruptly announced in a tweet overnight that he has asked national security adviser John Bolton to resign, noting that he "strongly disagreed with many" of Mr Bolton's suggestions "as did others in the administration."

US markets logged a mixed performance - Dow added +38-points or +0.14% to extend its recent rally into a fourth consecutive session, with Caterpillar Inc (up +3.7%) the leading index performer. The broader S&P500 dipped -0.01%, with Energy (up +1.85%) and Financials (+1.54%) the leading sector performers. AT&T Inc rose +1.49% after activist hedge fund Elliott Management revealed a $3.2B stake in the telecom giant. In a letter to shareholders, Elliott said AT&T can “improve its business and realise a historic increase in value.”The technology-centric NASDAQ slipped -0.19%. Alphabet Inc (down -0.1%) pared an earlier ~1% fall that came on reports that 50 attorneys general are joining an antitrust probe against Google. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 index outperformed with a climb of +1.3%. A number of traders were noting signs of an interesting rotation overnight, with value-oriented stocks enjoying one of their strongest days of the year relative to their growth counterparts. Energy and financial stocks - two mainstays of value investors—are rallying while technology and health-care stocks, longtime favourites of growth buyers, are lower. Software stocks were hit particularly hard.

US equity markets ended a strong week with mixed results as investors pondered the latest non-farm payrolls reports and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell - Dow up +69-points or +0.26% (to 26,797.46). The broader S&P500 +0.09% (to 2,978.71), The NASDAQ dipped -0.17% (to 8,103.07). Symantec Corp rallied +4.47% following a report that private-equity firms are looking to keep what's left of the cybersecurity company once Broadcom Inc ( +0.31%) closes its acquisition of its enterprise business. Apple Inc (down -0.01%) will unveil their next generation of iPhones as part of their new product launch event on Tuesday (10 September) For the week, the Dow climbed +1.49% and stands 2.1% shy of its record closing peak of 27,359.16 established on 15 July. The S&P500 gained +1.79% to move within ~1.6% of its record closing high of 3,025.86 set on 26 July. The Nasdaq rose +1.76% and sits ~2.7% below its closing record high of 8,330.21 also set on 26 July.

US markets rallied following news that fresh US-China trade talks had been scheduled for October, pushing the benchmark indices out of the range they have been trading in for much of the last month and to within striking distance of their record highs struck in June - Dow up +373-points or +1.41% The broader S&P500 gained +1.30%, with Information Technology (up +2.13%) the leading sector performer and pushing the index back up to within ~1.7% of its all time high. The technology-centric NASDAQ rallied +1.74%. China’s Commerce Ministry issued a statement saying that Liu He, Beijing’s top negotiator on trade, had spoken with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The two sides agreed to hold another round of trade negotiations in Washington, D.C., towards the beginning of next month, and consultations will be made in mid-September in preparation for the meeting, the statement said. Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng told a press briefing that the two delegations will strive to achieve "substantial progress" in October.

US equity markets posted solid gains and settled near their session highs as investors eyed some easing in global tensions - Dow up +237-points or +0.91%, the Intel Corp (up +4.1%) the leading index constituent. The broader S&P500 +1.08%, with Information Technology (up +1.71%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. The technology-centric NASDAQ +1.30%. Starbucks Corporation fell -0.7% after cutting their full year earnings outlook a little more than a month after posting better-than-expected third quarter earnings.