FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Following the military strike against Huthi rebels, investors increasingly bet on defense stocks on Friday. Buying lifted the Rheinmetall share to a record high of 315 euros in the morning, with a recent gain of almost 2 percent. In the MDax, Hensoldt took the lead with a gain of almost 4 percent.

Defence stocks were also in vogue on the European stock exchanges: in Milan, Leonardo shares rose by 2 per cent, their highest level since 2008. In London, BAE Systems shares soared by 1.6 per cent to another record high.

Analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu from Jeffer pointed out in a study that spending by the US Department of Defense rose by 17 per cent year-on-year in December. Spending on research and development in this area had increased even more.

The USA and Great Britain, with the support of the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain, attacked Huthi rebel positions in Yemen on Friday night. The military strike was a reaction to the "illegal, dangerous and destabilizing" attacks by the Huthi on ships in the Red Sea and was based on the right of self-defence, according to a joint statement, which was also supported by the German government. According to the Huthi television station Al Massirah, a representative of the Huthi threatened Al Massirah with retaliation./bek/jha/