Asian indices fail to follow the S&P 500 which hits a third consecutive high despite U.S. consumer confidence falling to a six-year low. The U.S. Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Laura which is gathering strength towards Texas and Louisiana. Major oil facilities have been evacuated and Brent reaches a five-month peak. The second night of the Republican National Congress defies convention as First Lady Melania Trump delivers her speech at the White House and Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, from Jerusalem on a diplomatic trip. Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to wane but Mexico’s nominee to lead the WTO tells CNBC the basis of trust and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies has been severely eroded.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.