Wall Street got socked on Thursday as renewed concerns about the U.S. and global economies sent major indexes plunging and pushed gold to a new high and bond yields to a record low.
Stocks were hit with bad news on multiple fronts. Morgan Stanley put out a dismal forecast for global economic growth. A key reading on U.S. housing came in worse than expected. And a report showed a significant slowdown in the domestic manufacturing sector.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) dropped 420 points, or 3.7%, to close at 10,991. The blue chips fell as much as 528 points.
The S&P 500 (SPX) lost 53 points, or 4.5%, to 1,141; and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) lost 131 points, or 5.2%, to 2,380.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/18/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm
Asian markets fall as global selloff continues
Investors around the world have been rattled by signs the global economy is loosing traction.
Morgan Stanley said Thursday it has slashed its global growth outlook for 2011 and 2012, adding that the U.S. and Europe are "hovering dangerously close to a recession."
http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/18/markets/asian_markets/index.htm?cnn=yes