On July 31, the Nasdaq Composite rallied 1% on the back of strong earnings from tech giants, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively. In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing the release of the Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge report and Cotality's house prices data. In corporate news, Westpac Banking (ASX:WBC, NZE:WBC) completed the sale of the RAMS home loan portfolio, around AU$15.4 billion at completion, to a consortium consisting of Pepper Money (ASX:PPM), credit funds and accounts managed by KKR, and PIMCO managed funds. Regis Healthcare (ASX:REG) struck a deal to acquire the business and assets of Royal Freemasons Homes of Victoria's Home Care, a not-for-profit provider of at-home support services. Australia's benchmark index was little changed to close at 8,976.80 on July 31.