US equity markets advanced as investors digested stronger-than-expected retail sales figures for January, the latest in a string of economic data that has fuelled investor bets that the Federal Reserve will have to raise interest rates further to curb inflation - Dow edged +39-points or +0.11%, rallying more than >250-points from its intrasession low. The broader S&P500 +0.28%, with Communication Services (+1.017%) and Consumer Discretionary (+1.16%) both rising over >1% to lift nine of the eleven primary sectors. Energy (down -1.78%) and Health Care (-0.51%) settled in the red. The Nasdaq +0.92%. Airbnb Inc jumped +13.35% after reporting record fourth-quarter revenue and profit after the close of the previous session to achieve its first profitable year. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 rose +1.09%.
