Strong US earnings buoy stocks, but will optimism last?
Can the US economy retain its growth rate in the face of mounting trade tensions with China?
US stocks rose slightly last week, and the Standard & Poor's 500 was on the cusp of new records as investors disregarded mounting trade tensions with China and focused on strong US earnings and a "Goldilocks"-style employment report.
This week, stocks could drift higher as the August doldrums set in. The question remains how long the bulls can retain their optimism and the US economy its growth rate in the face of a trade war with China.
On the earnings front, Apple became the first US company to surpass a US$1 trillion market value after the maker of smartphones and computers logged surprisingly strong sales growth of its premium-priced phones and watches.
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