A sharp rebound on the Chinese equity market and fresh corporate earnings lifted US equity markets, with the S&P500 closing in on a fresh record high - Dow up +127-points or +0.50%, with Caterpillar Inc up +% leading 22 of 30 index components higher. The broader S&P500 +0.28% to sit just 0.5% from its record all time high (of 2,872.87 set on 26 January), with Energy and Industrials (both up +0.7%) the leading sector performers. The technology-centric NASDAQ +0.31% Tesla Inc jumped +11% and was the subject of a trading halt for one hour in the afternoon session after chief executive officer (CEO) Elon Musk floated the idea of taking the company private. Tesla Inc was already on the rise following reports that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund had acquired a 3%-to-5% stake (worth ~US$1.9B-to-US$3.2B at current market prices) in the electric vehicle manufacturer.
