US equity markets advanced, buoyed by some solid quarterly earnings releases from major retailers and as investors cast their eye over the minutes of the Federal Reserve's July monetary policy meeting - Dow up +240-points or +0.93% The broader S&P500 rose +0.82%, with Consumer Discretionary (up +1.83%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. The technology-centric NASDAQ gained +0.90%. Federal Reserve officials who voted to lower interest rates three weeks ago agreed that the move shouldn’t be viewed as an indication that there is a “pre-set course” for future cuts, according to the central bank's meeting minutes. The summary indicated that policymakers viewed the move as a “mid-cycle adjustment” The Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium begins tonight AEST, with the theme of this year's conference being "Challenges for Monetary Policy".