US equity markets advanced to open the final month of the year on a positive footing, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq logging fresh intra-day and record closing highs - Dow fell -129-points or -0.29%, with Amgen Inc (down -1.69%), Honeywell International Inc (-1.28%, sliding further in after-hours trading after the company lowered its earnings and free cash flow guidance for 2024), JPMorgan Chase & Co (-1.39%), Merck & Co (-1.01%) and Verizon Communications Inc (-1.11%) all down over >1%. Technology giants Amazon.com Inc (up +1%), Apple Inc (+0.95%) and Microsoft Corp (+1.78%) were the leading performers in the 30-stock index.
