October 2, 2020 - Biz in 60

US economy adds 661,000 jobs in September US jobs growth slowed more than expected in September amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections. Employers added 661,000 non-farm payrolls last month, far below the 1.4 million jobs added in August. The Labor Department's final jobs report before the November election also shows the unemployment rate has fallen to 7.9% from 8.4%. Walmart sells majority stake in Asda for $8.8B Walmart has agreed to sell its British supermarket chain, Asda, to TDR Capital and the owners of EG Group for 8.8 billion dollars. The sale comes as part of Walmart's strategy to focus on the US and faster-growing overseas markets. Last year, the US retailer's attempt to exit the UK by merging Asda with Sainsbury's was blocked by competition regulators. Amazon: Nearly 20,000 employees contract COVID-19 And Amazon says that almost 20,000 of its frontline workers in the US have tested positive for the coronavirus since March. The figure represents almost 1.5% of its 1.37 million workers across Amazon and its subsidiary, Whole Foods. The US e-commerce giant has long been criticised by employees, unions and officials for putting workers' health at risk.