Even as trading and dealmaking surge, lending growth is muted.

U.S. stocks ripped higher Wednesday following a shot of adrenaline from an encouraging update on U.S. inflation. Strong profit reports from Wells Fargo and other big U.S. banks also helped launch indexes to their best day in two months.

U.S. stocks are rallying following an encouraging update on U.S. inflation. The S&P 500 jumped 1.5% in early trading Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 652 points, and the

This is a good time to be a trader. Revenue from big Wall Street desks dealing in stocks, bonds and other instruments surged in the fourth quarter from a year ago. [Trading revenue at Citigroup](

US stocks climbed on Wednesday after inflation data boosted investors’ hopes for interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve this year. Investors also cheered a strong set of quarterly results from the biggest US banks.