US equity markets fell late in Thursday's session albeit the benchmark indices logged their second consecutive monthly gains - Dow lost -69-points or -0.27% The broader S&P500 slipped -0.28% and the technology-centric NASDAQ -0.28%. Tesla Inc announced after the markets' close that it will deliver on a longstanding promise to offer a cheaper Model 3 (for US$35,000). Tesla also said it was shifting all its sales to online. In commentary around the latest US-China trade negotiations, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told CNBC that both countries are making "fantastic" progress in their negotiations thinks they are "headed for a remarkable, historic deal". Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a separate CNBC interview: "We have made a lot of progress," but added that a deal "is not yet done." Elsewhere on the geopolitical front, US and North Korean officials failed to agree on steps toward North Korea taking down its nuclear armament after a disagreement over the lifting of sanctions on the communist country. For the month, the Dow rose +3.67%, S&P500 +3.26% and Nasdaq +3.75%.

US equity markets fell late in Thursday's session albeit the benchmark indices logged their second consecutive monthly gains - Dow lost -69-points or -0.27% The broader S&P500 slipped -0.28% and the technology-centric NASDAQ -0.28%. Tesla Inc announced after the markets' close that it will deliver on a longstanding promise to offer a cheaper Model 3 (for US$35,000). Tesla also said it was shifting all its sales to online. In commentary around the latest US-China trade negotiations, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow told CNBC that both countries are making "fantastic" progress in their negotiations thinks they are "headed for a remarkable, historic deal". Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a separate CNBC interview: "We have made a lot of progress," but added that a deal "is not yet done." Elsewhere on the geopolitical front, US and North Korean officials failed to agree on steps toward North Korea taking down its nuclear armament after a disagreement over the lifting of sanctions on the communist country. For the month, the Dow rose +3.67%, S&P500 +3.26% and Nasdaq +3.75%.

US markets - Dow fell -73-points or -0.28% The broader S&P500 slipped -0.05%, NASDAQ eked out a +0.07%. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified in front of the House Ways and Means Committee and hinted that a trade deal was not yet certain, saying that any agreement would need to be more than just purchases by China. Pakistan said it shot down two Indian jets and carried out air strikes in Kashmir. Tensions have been elevated since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police on 14 February, but the risk of conflict rose dramatically on Tuesday when India launched an air strike on what it said was a militant training base.

US markets - Dow fell -73-points or -0.28% The broader S&P500 slipped -0.05%, NASDAQ eked out a +0.07%. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer testified in front of the House Ways and Means Committee and hinted that a trade deal was not yet certain, saying that any agreement would need to be more than just purchases by China. Pakistan said it shot down two Indian jets and carried out air strikes in Kashmir. Tensions have been elevated since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police on 14 February, but the risk of conflict rose dramatically on Tuesday when India launched an air strike on what it said was a militant training base.

Morgans Adviser Chris Titley caught up with Yasmin Grigaliunis from the World's Biggest Garage Sale. Her passion to make a difference is evident as we cover topics such as the circular economy, mental health, technology as well as entrepreneurship. Yasmin has recently been nominated for a number of awards as she continues to build a movement around the business and build out awareness of the brand.

Morgans Adviser Chris Titley caught up with Yasmin Grigaliunis from the World's Biggest Garage Sale. Her passion to make a difference is evident as we cover topics such as the circular economy, mental health, technology as well as entrepreneurship. Yasmin has recently been nominated for a number of awards as she continues to build a movement around the business and build out awareness of the brand.

US markets settled with modest losses, with no fresh signals from the Federal Reserve and no new developments in US-China trade talks - Dow lost -34-points or -0.13%, with Caterpillar Inc falling -2.43% after UBS downgraded the company to a "sell" from a "buy" rating previously and cut their 12-month target price to US$125 per share from US$154, citing cited slowing demand in global construction as the main reason for the downgrade. The broader S&P500 dipped -0.08%, NASDAQ -0.07%. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered his semi-annual testimony to the Senate Banking Committee. In prepared remarks, Powell said the economy is “healthy” and the outlook "favourable" but added the Fed is also seeing “crosscurrents and conflicting signals” that had weakened the case for further rate increases and made an otherwise positive economic outlook less certain. Mr Powell is now due to appear before the House Financial Services Committee tonight AEDT. Elsewhere, President Trump has arrived in Vietnam for a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

US markets settled with modest losses, with no fresh signals from the Federal Reserve and no new developments in US-China trade talks - Dow lost -34-points or -0.13%, with Caterpillar Inc falling -2.43% after UBS downgraded the company to a "sell" from a "buy" rating previously and cut their 12-month target price to US$125 per share from US$154, citing cited slowing demand in global construction as the main reason for the downgrade. The broader S&P500 dipped -0.08%, NASDAQ -0.07%. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered his semi-annual testimony to the Senate Banking Committee. In prepared remarks, Powell said the economy is “healthy” and the outlook "favourable" but added the Fed is also seeing “crosscurrents and conflicting signals” that had weakened the case for further rate increases and made an otherwise positive economic outlook less certain. Mr Powell is now due to appear before the House Financial Services Committee tonight AEDT. Elsewhere, President Trump has arrived in Vietnam for a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

US markets settled with modest losses, with no fresh signals from the Federal Reserve and no new developments in US-China trade talks - Dow lost -34-points or -0.13%, with Caterpillar Inc falling -2.43% after UBS downgraded the company to a "sell" from a "buy" rating previously and cut their 12-month target price to US$125 per share from US$154, citing cited slowing demand in global construction as the main reason for the downgrade. The broader S&P500 dipped -0.08%, NASDAQ -0.07%. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered his semi-annual testimony to the Senate Banking Committee. In prepared remarks, Powell said the economy is “healthy” and the outlook "favourable" but added the Fed is also seeing “crosscurrents and conflicting signals” that had weakened the case for further rate increases and made an otherwise positive economic outlook less certain. Mr Powell is now due to appear before the House Financial Services Committee tonight AEDT. Elsewhere, President Trump has arrived in Vietnam for a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

US equity markets advanced but closed off their best levels of the session, with President Trump confirming late on Sunday (24 February) that he would extend the 1 March deadline for increasing tariffs on US$200B in Chinese goods - Dow up +60-points or +0.23% The broader S&P500 edged +0.12% higher, touching the 2,800 level earlier in the session for the first time since early November last year. The NASDAQ +0.36%. General Electric Co rallied +7.3% after announcing it will sell its biopharmaceutical business to Danaher Corp (up +8.2%) for US$21.4B. The news comes on the same day that GE completed the merger of its transportation business with Wabtec Corp. On the US-China trade front, President Trump cited "substantial progress" across key topics such as intellectual property, technology transfers, agriculture and currency, and said if that continues, he will meet with President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago to wrap up a deal.