Overview: market optimism over the possibility of a vaccine in early 2021 overshadowed the continued surge in US cases, where the 50k-a-day threshold of new cases has been breached. Following the NASDAQ close yesterday at record highs, global equities have advanced. Led by Hong Kong returning from yesterday's holiday, Asia-Pacific equities rallied. Most local markets rose by more than 1%, though Tokyo and Taiwan lagged. Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is up over 1% to extend its rally for the fourth consecutive session. The S&P 500 is trading more than 0.5% higher in electronic trade,