Shock US jobs data sends markets diving

The FTSE has plunged into negative territory after disappointing US jobs data reignited fears over the economic recovery.

Figures out today show the number of new jobs created in June sunk to a nine-month low, with US nonfarm payrolls growing just 18,000 against expectations of a 90,000 increase. The shock figures pushed the unemployment rate up to 9.2%. The gloomy data sent the FTSE, which which prior to release of the data had been trading in positive territory, plunging sharply. By mid afternoon the index was down 37 points, or 0.6%, to 6017.  Essar Energy, Vedanta Resources and British Sky Broadcasting Group - the media group whose merger with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has been thrown into di...