US equity markets advanced after a choppy session as investors eyed the outcome of the Senate runoff elections in the battleground state of Georgia, which will determine the balance of power in Washington - Dow added +168-points or +0.55%, with Boeing Co (up +4.5%) the leading index performer. The broader S&P500 rose +0.71%, with the Energy sector (up +4.53%) logging its best single session advance since 4 December and leading ten of the eleven primary sectors higher. Chevron Corp gained +2.7% and Exxon Mobil Corp +4.82%. Real Estate (down -0.08%) was the only primary sector to settle in the red. Tiffany & Co announced after the closing bell that its holiday net sales reached a record high, up 2% thanks in large part to sales in China and online transactions. Costco Wholesale Corp lost -1.16% ahead reporting its December 2020 sales and revenue figures tonight AEST. The Nasdaq gained +0.95%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 index gained +1.71%.