Latest financial, market & economic news and analysis | Business

Fears grow of double-dip slump after US home sales plummet

Dow falls below 10,000 after figures show American house sales dropped 27% in July
- Bank of England member warns on UK economy
- Ruth Sunderland: No reason rates can't hit 8%
Technology industry faces chip shortage

Smartphone makers are now finding it harder to lay their hands on chips and display screens, leading to supply delays on some handsets
Zurich Insurance given record £2m fine

Financial Services Authority fines insurer for losing 46,000 customers' details in 2008
Austerity hits school whiteboard maker

Promethean shares plunge 20% despite increase in six-monthly operating profits
India blocks Vedanta mine on Dongria-Kondh tribe's sacred hill

Jairam Ramesh is hailed as the first Indian environment minister who takes his job seriously
- Vedanta bauxite mining on tribe's sacred mountain

Markets latest

Financial data from Reuters Share prices are updated with a 15-minute delay. Data is not intended for trading purposes. Important disclaimer.

US home sales in record July slump

A record 27% slump in July home sales has intensified fears of a US double dip recession
Economic recovery to slow down as business confidence falls

Tax rises in the emergency budget and the upcoming spending review have dented firms' confidence from earlier in the year, according to a survey
More on economics

Market forces live

Simon Jenkins: From IVF to universities and museums, Britain's aversion to charging for services punishes women, students and the poor

Henry Miller: If we had a sensible and safe policy that permitted more genetic engineering in farming, this egg recall might have been avoided

Employers tell survey after survey they cannot find the right people from the pool of UK graduates and must look overseas

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's future

Dean Baker: If the US government continues to underwrite the mortgage market, then the one thing it should not do is pad banks' profits
The blockade against Cuba and the banks

Letters: Cuba has been the target for 50 years of a unilateral US government policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade – but one that the international community has overwhelmingly condemned
Social networking site Tribe aims to secure customers and investment for entrepreneurs

The brainchild of Serge Bueno, the Tribe will bring together consumers, investors and small businesses
Caught out by NatWest's 'you must pay-in-every-month' rule

Because of a bank holiday two payments went in in one month so I lost my interest
More on banking