US equity markets retreated as traders continued to wind back hopes for interest rate cuts, echoing markets in Europe following comments from various central bankers - Dow eased -94-points or -0.25%, with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (down -3.06%) and Caterpillar Inc (-2.99%) both falling ~3% to be the worst performers in the 30-stock index.

US equity markets resumed trading following the holiday (Martin Luther King Day) long weekend on the back foot, with investors weighing the latest fourth quarter corporate earnings releases and comments from Federal Reserve official Christopher Waller - Dow dropped -232-points or -0.62%. Boeing Co (down -7.89%) was the worst performer in the 30-stock index.

Benchmark oil prices weaker, with traders watching out for supply disruption risk in the Middle East following strikes by U.S. and British forces to stop Houthi militia in Yemen from attacking ships in the Red Sea - WTI lost -US$0.32c or -04% to US$72.36/barrel. Brent fell -US$0.34c or -0.4% to US$77.98/barrel.

European bourses the pan-European Stoxx 600 index (which includes UK equities) -0.54%. Germany's DAX lost -0.49%. France's CAC shed -0.72%. Atos tumbled -% after the French information technology group said free cash flow would come in around €100M below target, but reaffirmed it would meet its other financial benchmarks amid growing concerns about its liquidity.

US equity markets settled little changed following the latest inflation figures - Dow edged +15-points or +0.04% higher, recovering from an earlier -271-point fall. Boeing Co fell -2.27% after the Federal Aviation Administration said it formally launched an investigation into whether the aerospace giant failed to complete safety tests on the certain products.

US equity markets climbed ahead of key December inflation figures tonight AEST - Dow gained +171-points or +0.45%, with Home Depot Inc (up +3.06%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index. Analysts at Wedbush upgraded their recommendation on the home improvement retail giant to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Neutral’, with the firm saying that weak home-improvement retail demand from last year was “bottoming or reversing, which should translate to stronger demand in 2024.

US equity markets settled with modest declines as investors continue to eye inflation figures and fourth quarter earnings releases later in the week - Dow fell -158-points or -0.42%, snapping a three session winning streak. Boeing Co continued to slide, falling -1.41% after dropping -8.03% after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday (6 January) ordered the immediate grounding of 737-9 Max jetliners after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. Alaska Air Group Inc (-1.32%) and United Airlines Holdings Inc (up +1.44%) said they had discovered loose parts on 737 MAX 9 jets that they inspected.

US equity markets rallied, with gains accelerating into the close following a strong session for the technology sector - Dow gained +217-points or +0.58%, recovering from an earlier decline of over >200-points. Boeing Co dropped -8.03% after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday (6 January) ordered the immediate grounding of 737-9 Max jetliners after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.

US equity markets ended a choppy Friday (5 January) session with modest gains, with the S&P500 and Nasdaq posting their first positive session of 2024 as investors digested the latest jobs data and eyed the beginning of the fourth quarter earnings season - Dow added +26-points or +0.07%. Walgreens Boots Alliance rebounded +3.09% a day after the release of its first quarter result that saw the after the pharmacy chain nearly halve its quarterly dividend and provide a downbeat outlook on consumer spending.

US equity markets advanced, extending their rally in the final hour of the session ahead of the release of key inflation figures tonight AEST - Dow gained +322-points or +0.87%. Intel Corp gained +2.88%, leaving the chipmaker on track to record its best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2003, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

US equity markets retreated despite fresh falls for bond yields as the so-called ‘Santa rally’ paused - Dow fell -476-points or -1.27%, snapping a nine session winning streak that saw the 30-stock index book five consecutive record closing highs. Walt Disney Co (down -2.83%) and American Express Co (-2.75%) both fell over >2.5% to be worst performing Dow components overnight.