Asian markets rally, SoftBank soars on US deal

Asian markets extended gains Wednesday after another record close on Wall Street, with Japan's SoftBank surging after Donald Trump said the telecoms giant had agreed to invest $50 billion in the US. Dealers are now looking ahead to a meeting Thursday of the European Central Bank, which is expected to extend a stimulus programme beyond its planned March finish and provide further buying support. “Further stimulus from the ECB will be bullish for equities,” James Woods, Sydney-based an