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.

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.

AUTHORITIES probing the murder of a US priest have arrested the church janitor, alleging he stabbed the cleric after arguing with him in the rectory.

Authorities investigating the murder of a US priest arrested the church janitor, alleging he stabbed the cleric 32 times with a kitchen knife after arguing with him in the rectory.