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US equity markets rallied, lifting both the S&P500 and Nasdaq back to record highs - Dow rose +130-points or +0.34%.

US equity markets advanced but trimmed gains in the closing hour of trading as investors digested Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s first day of congressional testimony - Dow added +76-points or +0.20%.

Technology stocks led declines on US equity markets overnight, with investors also eyeing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony tonight AEST and labour market data later in the week - Dow fell -405-points or -1.04%. Apple fell -2.84% after a report by Counterpoint Research reported that the company sold 24% fewer iPhones in in China in the first six weeks of 2024 versus a year earlier. Overall smartphone sales declined 7% in the period, though sales for rival firm Huawei jumped 64%, according to the report. Apple is still rapidly losing market share in China, a country that also serves as a manufacturing base for the company, after Beijing last year banned government officials from using Apple phones. In another sign of weakness, Foxconn (or Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd), the Taiwanese company that assembles iPhones for Apple, said on Tuesday (5 March) that February sales fell -12% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, Intel Corp (down -5.37%) and Salesforce Inc (-5.05%) both declined over >5% to be the worst performers in the 30-stock index.

The US equity market rally stalled overnight, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq retreating from record highs - Dow eased -98-points or -0.25%. Apple Inc fell -2.54% after the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, hit the company with a €1.8B antitrust fine for abusing its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps. Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration said its audit of 737 Max manufacturing at airplane-maker Boeing Co (up +0.27) and its key supplier turned up “multiple instances” of them failing to make sure manufacturing met quality standards.

US equity markets opened March with a bang, with both the S&P500 and Nasdaq logging fresh record highs - Dow added +91-points or +0.23%. Boeing Co fell -1.83% after confirming it is in “preliminary” talks to acquire Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (+15.31%), the troubled fuselage supplier it spun off nearly 20 years ago, as the plane maker faces pressure to improve its safety record. Boeing said it believed that the “reintegration” of Spirit “would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees, and shareholders”.

US equity markets closed out the month with modest gains as investors digested the latest inflation data, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recording record closing highs - Dow edged +15-points or +0.04%.

US equity markets weaker ahead of key inflation figures tonight - Dow slipped -23-points or -0.06%. UnitedHealth Group Inc (down -2.95%) led losses on the 30-stock index, while Intel Corp (-1.73%) and Alphabet Inc (-1.91%).

US equity markets mostly firmer as investors digested the latest round of corporate earnings releases and eye gross domestic product (GDP) figures tonight AEST and inflation figures on Thursday night AEST (29 February) - Dow fell -97-points or -0.25%. UnitedHealth Group Inc (down -2.27%) after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation into the health-insurance giant. Antitrust investigators have asked how UnitedHealth’s acquisitions of doctor groups might affect competitors and consumers, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the meetings.

US equity markets settled with modest declines following the recent Nvidia Corp (up +0.35%) fuelled rally, with traders eyeing gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation data later in the week - Dow eased -62-points or -0.16% to 39,069.23 after logging its 14th record close of 2024 last Friday (23 February). Amazon.com Inc (down -0.15%) joined the 30-stock index overnight, replacing Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (-3.41%). The Dow’s holdings are weighted according to stock price, not market capitalisation. Chevron Corp (down -0.14%) warned that its $53B acquisition of Hess Corp (fell over >4% in extended trading after rising +0.57% in the regular session) could be thwarted by rival oil groups ExxonMobil Corp (+0.39%) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, which are asserting their right to pre-empt its purchase of a stake in a massive oil project off the coast of Guyana.

The Dow and S&P500 eked out fresh record highs on Friday (26 February) - Dow added +62-points or +0.16% to a fresh record losing high of 39,131.53. Amazon.com Inc (up +0.23%) will replace Walgreens Boots Alliance (up +0.74%) as one of the 30 members of the Dow before the start of trading tonight AEST.