Trader Brendan Dowd works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008. Stocks fell in another rocky opening Wednesday, with investors uneasy about the health of the economy and corporate earnings after disappointing reports from big names like Apple Inc. and Motorola Inc., but rallied late in the day to finish up about 300 points.
Trader Frank Laregina uses a phone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday Jan. 23, 2008.
Trader Frank Cannarozzo leans on a phone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2008. Wall Street plunged at the opening of trading Tuesday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials down about more than 400 points before recovering after an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve failed to assuage investors fearing a recession in the United States.
A television screen in a booth on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2008, shows news of the federal funds rate drop before the start of trading. Wall Street plunged at the opening of trading Tuesday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials down sharply before recovering after the interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve failed to assuage investors fearing a recession in the U.S.
U.S. flags adorn the facade of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, 2008. U.S. stock futures seesawed Tuesday after the Federal Reserve, responding to a growing financial market crisis, slashed interest rates by three-fourths of a percentage point.
Mark Slobodnik reacts to the markets in the S&P 500 futures trading pit Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Wall Street struggled to steady itself Tuesday, climbing back from an early plunge after the Federal Reserve implemented an emergency interest rate cut in hopes of restoring stability to a faltering U.S. economy.
London
The front pages of British newspapers are displayed in London, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008. Global stock markets extended their declines into a second day Tuesday, plunging amid fears that a possible U.S. recession will cause a worldwide economic slowdown. The dramatic declines in Asia and Europe were expected to spread to Wall Street, where stock index futures were already down sharply hours before the trading day began.
Germany
A stock broker reacts to the ups and downs of the market, while sitting in front of the German stock index (DAX) display at the Stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. European stocks fell sharply at the opening, then rose in volatile trading. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up almost 3 percent, Germany's DAX fell slightly while France's CAC 40 was up almost 100 points.
Brokers from Commerzbank check stock prices in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Turbulence roiled world stock markets again Tuesday, with Asian stocks down for a second day on fears of recession in the U.S. European stocks fell at the opening, then rose in volatile trading.
France
An unidentified investments trader watches graphs on his computer screens, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008, in Paris. Global stock markets remained volatile for a second day, plunging amid fears that a possible U.S. recession will cause a worldwide economic slowdown.
China
A Chinese investor reacts at a private security company Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008, in Shanghai, China. Chinese stocks plunged Tuesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index falling 7.2 percent to its lowest close since early August. The Shanghai Composite index lost 354.69 points, or 7.2 percent, to 4,559.75, its lowest close since Aug. 2.
Chinese investors watch stock prices on a screen at a private security company in Fuyang, China, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008. Chinese stocks plunged Tuesday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index falling 7.2 percent to its lowest close since early August amid the second straight day of global declines.
Pakistan
Pakistani investors react as they monitor the stock prices on the electronic board in Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Shares on the Karachi stock market dipped on Tuesday following a decline in global markets on fears of a U.S. recession.
Pakistani stockbrokers monitor shares prices in Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Shares on Karachi stock market slipped on Tuesday following a decline in global markets on fears of a U.S. recession.
Hong Kong
A camera stands next to an electronic display in downtown Hong Kong as the city's benchmark Hang Seng Index tumbled 2,061.23 points, or 8.7 percent, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. It was the blue chip measure's largest points slide ever, but just shy of the 8.8 percent it plummeted after the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S. in 2001.
India
Onlookers watch share prices on a screen on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange, BSE, in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Indian shares were volatile Tuesday with markets closing for nearly an hour in the morning after steep plunges on the country's two major indexes.
Malaysia
An investor monitors stock prices at a private stock market gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008.
Japan
People walk by a board in Tokyo indicating Japan's benchmark Nikkei index lost 752.89 points, or 5.65 percent, at the end of Tuesday's session, Jan. 22, 2008, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Japan's benchmark stock plunged 5.65 percent to a more than two-year low amid fears about a U.S. recession and a possible global slowdown.
Brazil
Traders work on the floor of the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange in Sao Paulo, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. The Brazilian real closed stronger against the U.S. dollar Tuesday following the U.S. Federal Reserve Board's decision to cut the fed funds rate by 75 basis points.
A trader gestures on the floor of the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange in Sao Paulo, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008.