Recession fear sinks Wall Street stocks

US stocks tumbled for a seventh straight session today as investors bet recent moves by authorities worldwide to thaw frozen …

US stocks tumbled for a seventh straight session today as investors bet recent moves by authorities worldwide to thaw frozen credit markets would not be enough to avert a global recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average sank 668.40 points, or 7.22 per cent, to end unofficially at 8,589.70, based on the latest available data. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index tumbled 74.58 points, or 7.57 per cent, to finish unofficially at 910.36.

The Nasdaq Composite Index plummeted 95.21 points, or 5.47 per cent, to close unofficially at 1,645.12.

A year ago today, the Dow closed at a record high above 14,000.

Reuters