Why have stock markets around the world -- from Wall Street to Tokyo and from Paris to Seoul, been striking record highs despite the uncertain political and economic outlook?

"For a start, it is the fading uncertainty over trade wars," City Index analyst Fawad Razaqzada told AFP.

US President Donald Trump's move to apply tariffs on nearly all countries around the world initially sent equity markets slumping.

Trade tensions have since eased -- but the recent record highs go beyond a simple rebound from those concerns, which have not completely gone away.

The recovery also has to do with a flood of money on the markets, the performance of tech stocks and a renewed sense of confidence by investors.

- Cutting interest rates -

With the post-pandemic surge in inflation largely tamed, centr

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