US equity markets advanced, with investors eyeing the release of artificial intelligence (AI) bellwether Nvidia Corp’s second quarter result after the closing bell - Dow rose +147-points or +0.32% Salesforce Inc +2.63% was the leading performer in the 30-stock index, while Chevron Corp (+1.19%) and UnitedHealth Group Inc (+1.15%) rose over >1%. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (+0.10%) touched a record all-time high (US$753.00).


The broader S&P500 added +0.24% to a fresh all-time closing high of 6,481.40, also touching a record intra-day peak (6,487.06). Energy (up +1.15%) led eight of the eleven primary sectors higher. Communication Services (down -0.09%), Health Care (-0.03%) and Industrials (-0.02%) dipped into the red. Albemarle Inc rallied +7.54% to be the S&P 500's leading performer overnight a day after UBS upgraded the world's largest lithium producer  to "neutral" from "sell" and lifted its price target on the stock. UBS has raised its lithium price forecasts after warning that Chinese supply disruptions could be deeper and more prolonged than previously expected. Paramount Skydance Corp dropped -6.50%, falling the most of any S&P 500 constituent and extending the volatility recorded since the completion of the merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global earlier this month. Morgan Stanley also trimmed its price target on Paramount Skydance stock, citing a steep valuation and muted growth expectations for adjusted operating income. Eli Lilly & Co has temporarily paused shipments of its weight-loss drug Mounjaro in the UK, ahead of a new price hike for the treatment set to come into effect starting next month. There are legal protections in place to prevent inappropriate stockpiling of medicines by providers, the pharmaceutical company said, adding that it will resume orders on 1 September.