US equity markets posted a broad-based rally, with the latest benign consumer price index (CPI) data easing inflationary concerns - Dow up +197-points or +0.80% to log its sixth straight session gain - its longest winning streak since February - and move back into positive territory for 2018 (up +0.08%). The broader S&P500 rose +0.94%, with the Utilities and Telecom sectors both advancing more than >1%. NASDAQ added +0.89%, with Facebook up +1.6% and Apple +1.4%. Apple scaled a fresh record high a day after announcing a joint credit card launch with Goldman Sachs. Apple's market capitalisation (~US$934B) is more than the entire S&P 600 small capitalisation index (~US$858B). The small capitalisation Russell 2000 index rose 0.48% (to 1,603.71) to settle within 1% of a record high.
