US equity markets advanced to kick off the second half of 2024, with the Nasdaq climbing to a fresh record high - Dow edged +51-points or +0.13% higher, with Merck & Co Inc (up +3.31%) the leading performer in the 30-stock index. Boeing Co rose +2.58% after announcing a long-awaited deal to reacquire parts supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc (+3.35%). UnitedHealth Group Inc (down 2.87%) and Home Depot Inc (-2.34%) were the worst performing Dow components overnight.