Market Plunges 370 Points

Richmond Fed president's use of 'R' word spooks investors
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 5, 2008 4:12 PM CST
Market Plunges 370 Points
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) February 5, 2008 in New York City. In afternoon trading the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 300 points. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)   (Getty Images)

The markets fell more today than they had in 11 months in the wake of news that the service industry contracted in January and remarks by the Richmond Fed president on the growing risk of recession, Marketwatch reports. The Dow plummeted 370.03 to 12,265.13, the Nasdaq 73.28 to 2,309.57, and the S&P 500 44.18 to 1,336.62.

The unexpectedly grim news about the service sector “raised additional concerns that the slowdown which was being partially being supported by the service sector is quickly sliding into a full-blown recession," said one analyst. Today was the Dow's worst day of 2008, with financials leading the nosedive. American Express, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase each dropped at least 4%. (More Dow Jones stories.)

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