US President Donald Trump and the Senate have agreed a massive economic relief package worth more than $1.8 trillion (£1.5tn).

The package includes money to bail out industries that have been affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Republican Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell described it as a "wartime level of investment" in the economy.

Markets surged in the US on Tuesday in anticipation of a deal, and shares rose in Europe and Asia on Wednesday.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones jumped by 11.4% on Tuesday - its biggest one-day gain since the Great Depression.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed 8% higher on Wednesday following news of the relief deal.

Markets in Europe were also trading higher, with London's FTSE 100 index up 3.5%.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1727 HRS, MAR 25, 2020
SMS