US markets lower, with the Dow and S&P500 snapping a four session winning streak and as investors parsed the minutes from the Federal Reserve's August monetary policy meeting and eyed trade talks between Chinese and US officials expected to begin later on Wednesday in Washington. - Dow down -89-points or -0.34% The broader S&P500 slipped -0.04%, with Energy and Technology the leading sector performers. NASDAQ +0.38%, with Netflix up +1.90% Amazon.com +1.10%. Since March 9, 2009 - which marked the low of the financial crisis and which many consider the birth date of the current bull market - the S&P 500 has soared +320%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average +290% and the Nasdaq +520%. The Fed minutes indicated broad-based support for another interest-rate hike in September, with many officials stating that as long as economic data remain strong “it would likely soon be appropriate to take another step in removing policy accommodation.” However, they also suggested that any tightening will have to pause if the US trade tensions with partners continue to escalate. Leading central bankers gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, tonight AEST for the start of the latest annual economic symposium to discuss the future of monetary policy and the ever-changing market structure. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will speak on Friday (24 August)
