Stocks Soar in 2023 as Inflation Cools and Tech Leads Broad Rally

• S&P 500 ended 2023 up over 24%; Dow finished near record high as inflation eased, economy resilient, rates may fall • Gains driven by big tech stocks like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon; Nvidia up 239% • Rally since November broadened to smaller stocks; Russell 2000 erased 2022 losses • Asian markets mixed; Japan Nikkei 225 up 27% for best year in decade • Oil prices dropped nearly 11% in 2023 despite production cuts, geopolitical turmoil