Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Japan's Nikkei stock index hit a record-breaking all-time high of 39,098.68 at the close of trading Thursday. The index closed the day up 836.52 points, or 2.19%, propelling it to the mark that broke a record set in December 1989. Thursday's surge was driven by semiconductor stocks, led by America's Nvidia Corp. Nvidia sales were up well above market expectations, with a 3.7-fold sales increase and $12.3 billion in net profits, an 8.7-fold increase. "Nvidia was able to surpass the high expectations placed on it, with the results clearly demonstrating the growing need for artificial intelligence,"...