The Alabama Legislature voted Wednesday to allow state workers and education employees to count some overtime pay to increase their pension benefits.

The proposal would have asked voters to authorize the Legislature to halt enrollment in the public pension system for elected officials and judges and create a new defined-contribution plan for new enrollees.

Prudential Financial Inc. swung to a loss of nearly $1 billion in the first quarter as it wrote down the value of derivatives, and operating results fell short of expectations.

The rate of new business start-ups fell in 2010 to the lowest point on record, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

A survey of private companies by payroll provider ADP on Wednesday signaled a slowdown in hiring two days before the government issues the April jobs report. Yet ADP's report is causing few economists to scale back their forecasts for Friday.

Genworth Financial Inc. said Tuesday that Chairman and CEO Michael D. Fraizer has resigned, and the board has tapped Chief Financial Officer Martin P. Klein to fill as CEO while it searches for a successor.

Britain's border control union has set a strike date for May 10 as part of its dispute with the government over retirement ages.

Illinois health care centers are receiving nearly $9.5 million in grants made possible by the national health care overhaul.