Solid U.S. bank earnings and a rebound in tech lifted U.S. stocks on Thursday, with global risk appetite also fueled by - and oil prices clobbered by - a more moderate tone from U.S. President Donald Trump on tensions with Iran.
Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries hit record highs in November, rising after two straight months of declines as market sentiment improved after the U.S. federal government ended the longest-ever shutdown in history.
The U.S. and Taiwan have a reached a trade deal that the U.S. Commerce Department said on Thursday would drive a "massive reshoring of America’s semiconductor sector."