Business Blog

Pay in the private sector is likely to rise faster than public sector wages in the next four years, according to a report.

* Wall St indices drop 2 percent* Treasuries yields touch recent record lows* Brent oil at two-year lows under $90 a barrel* Gold up for fourth day(Adds closing New York prices, quotes)By Michael ConnorNEW YORK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks slumped 2 percent on Thursday as anxieties about global economic growth smothered a short-lived rally in equity markets around the world that was spark

* Wall St declines top 1.5 percent* Fed minutes show worry over global economy, strong dollar* Treasuries yields touch recent record lows* Brent oil under $91 a barrel(Adds steepening Wall Street decline, latest prices)By Michael ConnorNEW YORK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Wall Street slumped on Thursday as anxieties about global economic growth smothered a short-lived, Federal Reserve-sparked rally in equi

Homebuyers in Scotland will pay no tax on properties costing less than £135,000, Finance Secretary John Swinney announces.

Three unions representing local government workers and school support staff suspend a planned strike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

* Wall St shrugs off encouraging jobless report* Fed minutes show worry over global economy, strong dollar* Treasuries yields at recent record lows* Brent oil under $91 a barrel(Adds New York open, comments, changes dateline; previous LONDON)By Michael ConnorNEW YORK, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Concerns about lackluster growth in world economies sent Wall Street and other world stock markets lower on Thurs