FT markets round-up:"Global stocks rose and challenged new cyclical highs, supported by better than expected corporate earnings and improving economic data. The FTSE All-World equity index rose 0.6 per cent to 234.76 as the FTSE Eurofirst 300 rose 0.4 per cent and after the Asia-Pacific region added 0.9 per cent. In New York, the S&P 500 climbed 7 points to 1,507 and closing at a five-year peak. Solid house price data from S&P/Case-Shiller was partly counteracted by news that US consumer confidence is now at its lowest in more than a year. Still, Wall Street's mood was buoyed by the latest in a batch of mostly sentiment-supportive corporate results. Indeed, with about a third of the S&P 500 constituents having reported this earnings season, 75 per cent of them have delivered profits above analysts" expectations, according to Bloomberg. Other growth-focused products were firm, with copper up 0.2 per cent to $3.66 a pound and Brent crude closing above the $114 a barrel mark. The dollar index fell 0.2 per cent as the euro rose 0.3 per cent to $1.3491 and gold advanced by $9 to $1,663 an ounce. Amazon falls short on holiday sales: "Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer by sales, posted revenues and profits that fell short of market expectations for the crucial end-of-year holiday season, though it continued to grow faster than the ecommerce sector as a whole. The Seattle-based company said its revenues grew by 22 per cent to $21.3bn in the three months to the end of December, almost $1bn short of Wall Street expectations. Apple iPad upgrade targets Microsoft: "Apple has doubled the maximum storage for its iPad in an apparent attempt to win over more business customers who may otherwise be tempted by Microsoft's Surface or the many Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrids arriving on the market. US plan to issue more skilled migrant visas: "President Barack Obama has urged Congress to pass "commonsense, comprehensive immigration reform" that would create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and allow more highly skilled workers into the US.In his first major address on immigration reform, Mr Obama threw his weight behind a bipartisan plan unveiled this week - but warned that if Congress did not pass it, he would send it his own bill and "insist that they vote on it right away."" New McKinsey report on global infrastructure needs. Jobs and growth still linked. Will the junk rally continue this year? Former prosecutors don't appreciate Jefferies trader's vivid imagination. John Carney on Fed policy and economists" expectations. How should central banks think about the financial system?