) gained 2.1%, helped by news that sales of its iPhones in China in December jumped more than 18% year-on-year. [.N]
“We will have a symbolic event of Sino-U.S. dialogue. Given the current strength of the market, it is hard not to expect this rally to continue for the time being,” said Norihiro Fujito, chief investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in Tokyo. “On top of easing tensions in Iran, optimism on U.S. corporate earnings are fuelling sentiment. The euphoria is coming back to the markets,” said Masanari Takada, cross asset strategist at Nomura Securities.
Waning worries about all-out war in the Middle East pushed down gold, safe-harbor currencies and oil.
Rich man's casino.