Trading in shares of more than 3,000 US companies listed by Nasdaq, including Google, Apple and Microsoft, was abruptly halted shortly after midday yesterday because of a technical problem, the latest black eye for the US securities trading business.

Weak reports on hiring and service industries sent the stock market sharply lower yesterday, giving the Dow Jones industrial average its worst day in more than a month.

UNEXPECTEDLY weak US job numbers for August yesterday reinforced fears of recession, driving investors out of stocks and into the safety of bonds, gold and the Swiss franc. World stocks fell nearly 2 percent after the US Labour Department said employers added no new jobs in August and July’s figure was revised lower.

Stock markets across the world plunged into the red today as jittery investors sold off stock amid fears over US consumer spending.