US equity markets advanced for a third day as lawmakers neared an agreement that would avert a debt-ceiling breach for at least two months - Dow up +338-points or +0.19%, with Visa Inc (up +1.78%), Nike Inc (+2.05%) and Home Depot Inc (+2.16%) The broader S&P500 gained +0.83%. Consumer Discretionary (up +1.50%), Materials (+1.35%) and Health Care (+1.23%) led ten of the eleven primary sectors higher, with Utilities (down -0.53%) the only sector to settle in the red. The Nasdaq +1.05%. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.59%.