Apple’s rally pulls Wall Street to the cusp of its record

Market Overview - Asian markets experienced significant gains, with Japan's Nikkei 225 rising 2.9% to 48,970.40, marking a new record [1] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng increased by 2.5% to 25,884.81, while the Shanghai Composite index rose 0.7% to 3,866.77 [3] - South Korea's Kospi surged 1.3% to 3,796.64, also setting a record, driven by hopes for a trade deal with the U.S. and strong semiconductor demand [4] Economic Indicators - China's economy grew at an annual rate of 4.8% in the last quarter, the slowest pace in a year, indicating ongoing struggles in the property market and consumer spending [2] - The U.S. stock market saw positive movement, with the S&P 500 rising 0.5% to 6,664.01, marking the best week since early August [5] Policy Developments - Japan's new coalition government is expected to implement market-supporting policies, including low interest rates and increased government spending under the leadership of Sanae Takaichi [2] - China's Communist Party is convening to set policy goals for the next five years, with outcomes expected to be formally endorsed in early March [3] Corporate Performance - U.S. bank stocks stabilized after reporting stronger-than-expected profits, including Truist Financial, Fifth Third Bancorp, and Huntington Bancshares [6] - SK Hynix saw a gain of 3.3%, while Kia Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. rose by 2.7% and 2.5%, respectively, reflecting strong demand in the automotive sector [4]