US equity markets advanced, consolidating the strong gains of the previous session as “growth” sectors outperformed - Dow added +48-points or +0.15%, Walt Disney Co gained +3.75%, tracking Netflix Inc (up +7.35%) higher after the streaming giant forecast a return to customer growth during the third quarter after the close of the previous session, while posting a smaller-than-forecast -1M drop in subscribers in the second quarter. The broader S&P500 gained +0.59%, with Consumer Discretionary (+1.77%), Information Technology (+1.56%), Energy (+1.02%) and Communication Services (+1.01%) all rising over >1% to lead seven of the eleven primary sectors higher. More defensive sectors underperformed, with Utilities down -1.36% and Health Care -1.06%. Carnival Corporation fell over >8.5% in extended trading (following a +7.05% advance in the regular session) after the cruise operator announced it intends to sell at least US$1B in fresh stock, with underwriter Goldman Sachs potentially selling up to US$150M more. The company said it intends to use the proceeds for "general corporate purposes, which could include addressing 2023 debt maturities." The Nasdaq +1.56% to log its fourth positive session in five, with technology megacaps Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp gaining +3.86% and +1.06% respectively. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.59%.
