US equity markets advanced, shrugging off a threat by President Trump not to sign a bill including nearly US$900B in pandemic relief - Dow up +114-points or +0.38% . The broader S&P500 eked out a +0.07% gain, having been up as much as ~0.7% earlier in the session. Cyclical sectors provided the market with some support, with Energy and Financials the two best-performing groups, rising +2.2% and +1.6%, respectively. The technology-centric Nasdaq eased -0.29%. The small-capitalisation Russell 2000 index logged its 13th record closing high of 2020, gaining +1. (to 1,989.88). President Trump said the stimulus package, agreed upon after months of wrangling in Congress, was “a disgrace” and that he wanted to increase “ridiculously low” US$600 payments for individuals to US$2,000.
