European Markets

In London FTSE 100 Index closed lower 217.30 or 3.86% to 5,414.40, in Paris CAC 40 index decreased 161.11 or 3.51% to close at 4,431.04 and in Frankfurt DAX index lower 269.60 or 4.18% to close at 6,182.30. In Zurich trading SMI decreased 357.77 or 5.02% to close at 6,774.26.

North American Markets indexes

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 21.16 or 0.18% to a close of 11,972.25, S&P 500 closed down 11.54 or 0.90% to 1,276.60, and Nasdaq Composite Index declined 35.48 or 1.60% to a close of 2,177.01. In Toronto TSX Composite closed down 300.69 or 2.27% to 12,952.150.

Of the 30 stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average, 16 closed higher, 14 closed lower, and none were unchanged.

General Motors led the decliners in the index with a loss of 7.2% followed by declines in Citigroup of 5.8%, in Alcoa of 3.6%, and in AIG of 3.35%. JP Morgan rose 10.3% followed gains in Verizon of 2.4%, in Johnson & Johnson of 2.2%, and in AT&T of 2.2%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 133 stocks increased, 361 declined, and 6 were unchanged. Of the stocks in the index, 10 stocks fell more than 3% and 48 gained more than 3%.

Bear Stearns led the decliners in the index with a collapse of 84% followed by losses in National City of 43%, in CIT Group of 28%, in Lehman Brothers of 19%, in Ambac Financial of 13%, and in Washington Mutual of 13%. JP Morgan Chase led the gainers in the index with a rise of 10.3% followed by increases in H&R Block of 5.10%, in CSX Corp of 4.8%, in Ashland Inc of 4.4%, and in Hudson City of 4.1%.


South American Markets Indexes

In Latin Markets Brazil led the decliners in the region with a fall of 3.19% followed by decreases in Peru of 2.9%, in Argentina of 2.84%, and in Mexico of 2.2%. Chile fell 0.27% and Colombia lost 1.22% but Venezuela was unchanged.


Asian Markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 454.09 or 3.71% to 11,787.51, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index decreased 1152.50 or 5.18% closed to 21,084.61. Australia ASX 200 index increased 119.90 or 2.30% to close 5,087.00. In Malaysia KL Composite index decreased 17.31 or 1.45% closed to 1,177.53.

In South Korea Kospi Index decreased 25.82 or 1.61% to close at 1,574.44, in Thailand SET index closed lower 11.30 or 1.38% to 806.74 and Indonesia JSE Index edged decreased 71.10 or 2.98% to 2,312.32. Sensex index in India decreased 951.03 or 6.03% to 14,809.49.

Bond Yields increased on 10-year U.S. bonds to 3.50% and on 30-year bonds increased to 4.375%.

Commodities, Metals, and Currencies

Crude oil decreased $4.53 to close at $105.68 a barrel for a front month contract, natural gas decreased 77 cent to $9.10 per mBtu, and gasoline futures decreased 18.52 cents to close at 250.42 cents per gallon.

Gold increased $3.10 in New York trading to close at $1,002.60 per ounce, silver closed down 35.5 cents to $20.42 per ounce, and copper for front month delivery decreased 14.30 cents to 368.50 per pound.

Wheat futures decreased 60.00 cents in Chicago trading and closed at $11.31 per bushel. Sugar decreased 1.45 cent to 12.09 cents per pound. Soybean future closed down 50 cents to $13.02 per bushel.