04:02 PM EDT, 08/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Monday as markets awaited this week's key corporate earnings and the annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

* The two-day Jackson Hole symposium is scheduled to kick off Thursday, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due to speak Friday.

Powell's remarks will be a key focus for markets this week amid expectations that policymakers could lower their benchmark lending rate by up to 50 basis points next month, Oppenheimer Asset Management said in a Monday note to clients.

* Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that it would be appropriate to discuss lowering interest rates at the next FOMC meeting on Sept. 17-18 due to slowing inflation and concerning labor market data. This follows similar comments from San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly on Sunday.

* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $2.28 to settle at $74.37 per barrel, while October Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $2.14 to $77.54 on continuing worries over the health of China demand, though geopolitical concerns offered support.

* Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD ) shares were up 4.5% after the chipmaker agreed to acquire artificial intelligence infrastructure solutions company ZT Systems for roughly $4.9 billion.

* HP (HPQ) likely faces limited earnings and valuation upside, with catalysts "largely priced in" and second-half personal computer demand trending "a bit weaker" than previously forecast, Morgan Stanley said in a Monday note to clients. The PC maker's shares were down 3.6%.