Europe Sees Biggest Stock Plunge Since 9/11

Growth fits economists' predictions

(AP) - The economy grew slightly faster over the summer as Americans spent a little more freely: The GDP grew at a 2% rate during the third quarter, in line with what economists had forecast. It marks a slight improvement over last quarter, when the GDP grew at a 1.7% rate. Consumers helped boost last quarter's economic growth with 2.6% growth in spending, the biggest quarterly increase since the end of 2006, before the recession hit. More»

Volatile day ahead

(NEWSER) - Stocks dropped today at the open, after a dour housing report reaffirmed market pessimism. But the day is expected to be a volatile one, the Wall Street Journal reports, after yesterday’s wild session. The Dow dropped 221 points at the bell, with the S&P and Nasdaq dropping 2.6% and 2.4% respectively. President Bush again tried to calm markets and the country this morning, defending the government’s various interventions in the market. More»

'This is just about fear right now'

(NEWSER) - Stocks continued downward today, with the Dow falling a record 782 points, the Wall Street Journal reports, and settling mid-afternoon around 9,571, below 10,000 for the first time since October 2004. “This is just about fear right now, and whether stocks are going to close down 200 or 900 points,” said one trader. All 30 of the index's stocks were in the red. More»

(NEWSER) - Stocks were down in Europe and Asia today amid fears of a global recession despite the massive government bailout being arranged in the US. Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index dipped for a second day, falling 1.8% in early trading, Bloomberg reports. Barclays fell 3.6% and Australia's Macquarie Group Ltd.dipped 4.5%. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped .6%, ending a two-day rally. "The problems aren't resolved," warned one analyst. More»

US futures and dollar sink: 'It's mayhem'

(NEWSER) - Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, along with news that mammoth insurer AIG is seeking a $40 billion Federal Reserve loan, has sent European and Asian markets, US futures and the dollar sharply downward, Bloomberg reports. Swiss-based UBS AG, Europe’s bank most hurt by the subprime crisis, plunged 7.2%. Australia’s biggest investment bank, Macquarie, fell 10%, and S&P futures expiring in December fell 2.9%. More»