The US economy created 243,000 jobs in January, the highest total for nine months, official figures show.  The rise was much more than expected. Analysts had forecast an increase of about 150,000 jobs.  The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%, which was the lowest rate in nearly three years, and down from a revised rate of 8.5% in December.

News of the jobs growth caused shares to rocket up, with the Dow Jones index up 156 points at 12,862, its highest level since May 2008.  The Nasdaq index, which specialises in technology companies, soared to its highest level since December 2000 by the close of trading on Friday.  In Europe, the FTSE 100 index hit its highest level since July 2011 rising 1.8% while Germany’s Dax closed up 1.6%. The Cac 40 in France was 1.5% higher.

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