U.S. stocks experienced a significant rally, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring 600 points, following the release of cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data for December. The core consumer price index (CPI) rose at a slower pace than anticipated, alleviating concerns about persistent inflation and fueling optimism for potential interest rate cuts in 2025. This positive economic news was complemented by robust earnings reports from major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo, which reported their second-most profitable year in 2024. The banking sector's performance was bolstered by a revival in dealmaking and trading activities, with Bank of America's profits more than doubling in the fourth quarter. The market's reaction was also influenced by expectations of a pro-growth policy environment under the incoming Trump administration, which is anticipated to foster a more lenient regulatory framework for the financial sector.