Dampened CPI pushes Dow Jones up 217 points, U.S. dollar dives

NEW YORK, New York - A fractional decline in last month's CPI triggered another sharp rally on Wall Street on Thursday. The U.S. dollar conversely dived on expectations the lower CPI signals a cooling of inflation and, thus, growing prospects for slower interest rate hikes ahead.

"The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers declined 0.1 percent in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1