US equity indices all set to end July with strong gains

Major US equity indices witnessed a positive opening on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) hitting fresh intraday record highs immediately after the opening bell. 

During the opening hour of trade, the DJIA gained around 80-points to 21,910, while the broader S&P 500 Index added 4-points to 2,476. Both the indices remain on track to end the month on an upbeat note, with gains in excess of 2.0%. Meanwhile, tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 11-points to 6,385 and is looking at a monthly over 3.5% for July, marking its best month since January. 

Investors remained optimistic about second-quarter corporate earnings and now look forward to the important macro data - the closely watched US non-farm payrolls data on Friday for some fresh impetus. 

In a sign of how strong the uptrend has been, the market largely ignored latest geopolitical development. N. Korea conducted yet another intercontinental ballistic missile test late Friday and Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US diplomats/staff would have to leave the country by September in retaliation for impending US sanctions on Moscow.