Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 in New York. Stocks fluctuated in a narrow range Wednesday, showing some signs of stability on a satisfactory gross domestic product report and a recovery on some markets in other countries.
London
A pedestrian passes a stocks display board in London, Wednesday Feb. 28, 2007. The main market index on the London Stock Exchange was down 1.5 percent in the first minutes of trading Wednesday, reflecting a sharp fall on exchanges around the world.
Frankfurt, Germany
Stock trader Dirk Mueller wipes his face as he sits in front of the German Stock Index (DAX) display at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. Chinese stocks bounced back Wednesday after their biggest decline in a decade, but stock markets in Asia and Europe fell for a second day amid investor jitters about possible slowdowns in the Chinese and U.S. economies.
Shanghai, China
A Chinese investor watches data shown on the board of a stock trading house in Shanghai, China Wednesday Feb. 28, 2007. Chinese regulators shifted into damage control, denying rumors of plans for a 20 percent capital gains tax on stock investments as the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index opened lower but then regained lost ground Wednesday following its worst plunge in a decade.
Tokyo
A newspaper delivery man waits at an intersection in front of a stock indicator in Tokyo Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. Japanese stocks took their steepest fall in more than eight months Wednesday, a day after rising concerns about the U.S. and Chinese economies sent their markets plunging.
Hong Kong
A man walks past a display showing the movements of the Hang Seng Index on an electric signboard of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. Hong Kong shares tumbled in early trading Wednesday, tracking panic selling in global markets.
A man walks past a screen showing world index at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. Hong Kong shares tumbled in early trading Wednesday, tracking panic selling in global markets.
New York
Traders are seen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in New York. Stocks on Wall Street fell sharply, the Dow posting its worst decline since Sept. 17, 2001, when the blue chips closed down 684.81, or 7.13 percent, joining a global decline sparked by growing concerns that the U.S. and Chinese economies are cooling and that U.S. stocks are about to embark on a major correction.
Christopher Walls, of Institutional Direct Inc., watches a monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in New York. Stocks plummeted, briefly hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 550 points, sparked by growing concerns over the U.S. and Chinese economies and that equities prices have become overinflated.
Robert J. Graham, center, of Murphy & Durieu, monitors trading near a telephone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in New York. The Dow began the day falling sharply, and the decline accelerated throughout the course of the session before stocks took a huge plunge in late afternoon as computer-driven sell programs kicked in.
Jeffrey Vazquez, of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, works his electronic handheld device on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in New York. The Dow fell 546.02, or 4.3 percent, to 12,086.06 before recovering some ground in the last hour of trading to close down 415.86, or 3.29 percent.
A statue of George Washington on the steps of Federal Hall overlooks the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, in New York. Stocks on Wall Street fell sharply, joining a global decline sparked by growing concerns that the U.S. and Chinese economies are cooling and that U.S. stocks are about to embark on a major correction.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
An investor reacts while looking at share prices at a private stock market gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Prices were widely lower Tuesday, in line with other regional exchanges. Stocks on Wall Street fell sharply, joining a global decline on growing concerns about slowing economies in the U.S. and China amid signs that oil prices may rise again.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Brazilian stock traders negotiate prior to closing time at the Mercantile & Futures Exchange, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. As a consequence of Chinese share prices tumbling more than 8 percent and amounting to biggest one day loss in 10 years, Brazil's Sao Paulo Stocks Exchange tumbled as well.
Manila, Philippines
A trader reads notes under a graphic display at the electronic board of the Philippine stock exchange in Manila's financial district of Makati in Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. The exchange index dropped 1.44 percent, its biggest single-day fall in four weeks due to the effect of rising oil prices.
Shanghai, China
An investor is seen in front of an electronic board at a stock trading hall in Shanghai in east China Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Shanghai's benchmark stock index plunged nearly 9 percent on Tuesday, its biggest drop in more than 10 years, as investors unloaded stocks to lock in profits after recent gains.
Private investors use trading terminals at a stock trading hall in Shanghai in east China Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Shanghai's benchmark stock index plunged nearly 9 percent on Tuesday, its biggest drop in more than 10 years, as investors unloaded stocks to lock in profits after recent gains.
Hong Kong
A passerby walks past a display showing the movements of the Hang Seng Index on an electric signboard of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Hong Kong shares tumbled Tuesday, following the stock market in China, which recorded its biggest single-day plunge in a decade. The blue chip Hang Seng Index fell 360.08 points, or 1.8 percent, while the Shanghai Composite Index, slid 8.8 percent.