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US equity markets retreated, paring earlier steeper losses as investors digested the latest economic growth data and another swathe of major corporate earnings releases  - Dow fell -375-points or 0.98% (after slipping -43-points or 0.11% on Wednesday (24 April)). International Business Machines (IBM) Corp shed -8.25% after the hardware, software and consulting provider reported softer-than-expected first quarter revenue (up +1.5% year-on-year at US$14.46B versus consensus US$14.55B) after the close of the previous session and confirmed earlier media speculation in announcing that it was acquiring cloud software maker HashiCorp Inc (up +4.49% at US$32.82) in a deal with an enterprise value of US$6.4B (paying US$35 per share).

US equity markets rallied as investors poured over another busy corporate earnings calendar - Dow extended gains into a fourth consecutive session, rising +264-points or +0.69% to book its longest winning streak since 21 March. Verizon Communications Inc rebounded +2.85% after dropping -4.67% a day earlier following the release of the telecommunications giant’s first quarter result. American Express Co gained +2.56%.

US equity markets rebounded to open a busy week headlined by a host of major corporate earnings releases, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth and inflation data - Dow gained +254-points or +0.67%, extending its advance into a third consecutive session. Goldman Sachs Group Inc (up +3.3%) was the leading performer in the 30-stock index, with just five components settling in the red. Salesforce Inc rose +1.27% following reports that talks to acquire data management firm Informatica (down -10.51%) had broken down. News of the possible acquisition sent Salesforce’s stock tumbling last week.

US equity markets retreated, with large capitalisation technology stocks under particular pressure and with traders continuing to assess the latest developments in the Middle East and quarterly earnings - Dow gained +211-points or +0.56%.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell for a fifth straight session as a slew of earnings reports lifted pockets of the market, including insurers and airlines, while technology stocks underperformed - Dow edged +22-points or +0.06% higher, with UnitedHealth Group (up +2.96%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index for a third straight session, getting a further boost after health insurance peer Elevance Health Inc (+3.19%) raised its full-year earnings forecast after topping first quarter earnings and revenue estimates thanks to premium rate hikes. However, Microsoft Corp (down -1.84%), Intel Corp (-1.79%) and Salesforce Inc (--1.59%) all fell over >1.5.

Morgans Chief Economist Michael Knox gives an update on the Fed Funds and the RBA Cash Rate.

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