Traders were also encouraged by new Inflation Data forjanuary that showed the smallest increase in goods and Services Prices for three years. That has added to bets that the Federal Reserve is on track to start cutting Interest Rates injune. Our north America Business correspondent Erin Delmore Reports from new york. All three of the major us Stock Indexes closed out february with a bang. The Tech Heavy Nasdaq Hit an all time high and it is the first time we have been able to say that since november 2021. Another new high for the s p 500. Both indexers enjoyed their best february high for the s p 500. Both indexers enjoyed their best february since 2015. The Dowjones Industrial Average for its part was up as well. That makes february the fourth straight month in the green for wall street and the Leap Day Boost was helped by some new Inflation Data. Well, the market today is reacting to a favourable continuation of inflation coming down in a trend towards the Federal Reserve s target.
welcome to bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we start with some breaking news officials in washington say us and british forces have carried out another wave of strikes against houthi targets in yemen. it s the latest action against the iranian backed group, which has been attacking commercial shipping in the red sea in response to israel s war against hamas. president biden and the british prime minister rishi sunak have been discussing the crisis on the phone. our defence correspondent jonathan beale gave us this update. is the second time that this coordinated action has taken place. it happened ten days ago when british jets from raf akrotiri in cyprus, which i think probably would have been involved again, took part with american led strikes against the houthis, specific going over command and control and sites also where they have been storing, manufacturing drones and missiles, which they have been using to target merchant shipping in
more than 3/10 of a percent. this is what they call a bull run. the market s been on the upswing since october 2022, and it s thanks to a few tailwinds. among them, an outperforming tech sector and a resilient labour market. the federal reserve has a role too. so far it s been able to cool inflation without tipping the economy into a recession. that s called a soft landing and it s buoying wall street. stocks are rallying in anticipation of interest rate cuts that the fed has signalled this year, which would let interest rates fall from a 22 year high. when interest rates go down, it makes it cheaper for businesses and individuals to borrow money. so spending increases and usually that makes stock prices go up. meanwhile, it s a different story for the chinese stock markets, which have been struggling in the new year. chinese premier li qiang pledged to take forceful and effective action to support market confidence. shares in mainland china and in hong kong have been hoverin
interest payments some of which are linked to inflation. let s get this in perspective though the uk s national debt is at record levels. it owes £2.69 trillion. that is almost the size of the uk economy the so called debt to gdp ratio is around 97.7%. that is a useful guide to how affordable the debt is for a country. the chancellor has pledged to get that ratio down. the uk s far better off than some of its neighbours though italy s debt to gdp is around 140%. but if we look at germany s that s is only around 65%. but if we look at germany s that s only around 65%. staying in the uk where aside from talk of potential tax cuts there are stark warnings that 2 million people could have their gas and electricity cut off this winter because they can t afford to top up their prepayment meter. that comes from the charity the citizens advice bureau as cost of living pressure continue to bite for many. joining me now is the report author alex belsham harris en
make their last minute pitches across the state. this is the second in a series of state by state contests with donald trump and nikki haley fighting for their party s presidential nomination. that prize will pit them against the democratic choice in november, almost certainly presidentjoe biden. but with a cost of living crisis hitting many americans what are these two candidates saying about economic policy? dr thomas gift is director of the centre on us politics at university college london good to see you again. when it comes to policy it is hard to find what these two are saying at the moment? it find what these two are saying at the moment? at the moment? it is terrific to talk to at the moment? it is terrific to talk to you at the moment? it is terrific to talk to you as at the moment? it is terrific to talk to you as always. - at the moment? it is terrific i to talk to you as always. there is not a whole lot of discussion in terms of policy about the us economy