A strong start to the third quarter corporate earnings season lifted US equity markets - Dow up +237-points or +0.89% (to 27,024.80) to log its first close above >27,000 since 19 September. The broader S&P500 rose+1.00% to close within ~1% of its record closing high of 3,025.86 set on 26 July. The latest gains saw both the Dow and S&P500 turn higher for the month. The technology-centric NASDAQ gained +1.24%.