WALL STREET was bullish on Thursday in response to a cut in interest rates (Shutterstock).

Stocks hit a record high on Thursday in the aftermath of a half-percent cut in the interest rates announced by the Federal Reserve on  Wednesday.

According to The New York Times, the S&P 500 rose by 1.7 percent to nearly 6,000, a new all-time peak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.3 percent and set a new record there as well.

Lower interest rates can increase profits but can also – in the long run – potentially reduce the cost of goods and services to consumers.

The Fed had been keeping interest rates relatively high as a way to curb inflation, and now the rate cut is intended to keep the economy growing.

“The U.S. economy is in a good place, and our decision today is designed to keep it there,” said Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.

Widening of Mideast war feared

The prospect of combat in the Middle East widening to include new combatants has been raised in the wake of  Israel’s alleged tactic of detonating thousands of pagers, “walkie/talkies” and other electronic devices against leaders and members of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group.

United Press International reports that Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, said that Israel has crossed “all the red lines” by this tactic. The latest count is that 35 people – including two children – have been killed and nearly 3,000 wounded in locations across Lebanon.

“This attack did not bring us down and will not … We will become stronger,” he said.

This new “front” is considered by some sources to represent a shift in emphasis in Israel away from its struggle against Hamas in Gaza, according The Associated Press.

Shohei hits 50-50 … (51-50) in 20-4 win

DODGERS‘ Shohei Ohtani made history on Thursday by become the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases on Thursday as he homered three times and swiped two bases as the Los Angeles Dodgers hammered the Marlins 20-4 in Miami.

Overall, he batted 6-for-6, with two doubles, scored four times and drove in 10 runs. He’s now hit 51 homers for the Blue Crew with nine games left on the schedule.

With the win, the Dodgers are 91-62. They’ve clinched a playoff berth and lead the National League West by four games over the San Diego Padres (87-66). They’ll play the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

The Los Angeles Angels gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in Houston and lost 3-1 to the Astros. The sole score for the Halos was Taylor Ward’s leadoff home run in the first inning. It was his 25th homer of the season.

Jose Suarez gave his team a chance to win, pitching five strong innings, He yielded only three hits and one earned run, struck out five and walked two. But reliever Ryan Miller (0-1) in the eighth was touched for one hit – a double – and two runs. He walked four Astros, including one intentional pass.

It was the team’s seventh defeat in nine games; so far in September, the team is 6-11. With the loss, the Orange County team is 62-91 and in fifth and last place in the American League West.

Weather: A bit of a chance of rain?

Warmer days are coming to our West Orange County cities, but Friday will be a cool-ish 73 (with an overnight low of 64) with morning clouds and afternoon sun. There’s an 18 percent chance of rain, according to forecasts. Saturday will warm to 76 (62), then rise to 81 (61) and 81 (62) on Sunday and Monday under partly cloudy skies.