Stock Markets Plunge Over Europe Debt Fears
TIMES ONLINE: European and American stock markets plunged yesterday as investors took fright over the difficulties in debt-ridden countries such as Greece and Portugal and fears mounted over the health of the world’s biggest economy.

There were concerns that Greece may not meet its tough budget plans as workers started the first in a wave of strikes, prompting worries that Spain, Portugal and the Irish Republic may also struggle to cut their soaring debts. In a sign of the scale of the problems, a gauge of the perceived credit risk of Western European nations overtook that of the most stable US companies for the first time. >>> Gary Parkinson and Gráinne Gilmore | Friday, February 5, 2010

Dow Tumbles on Bank Nationalisation Fears
THE TELEGRAPH: America's leading Dow Jones Industrial Average touched a new bear-market low last night as investor concern that a number of major banks may be nationalised reached fever-pitch and sent banking shares to 17-year-lows.

The Dow Jones index touched a new low for the current bear market following a number of near-misses earlier in the week, closing down 89.68 points – or 1.17pc – at 7,465.95. The closing level was some 87 points below the previous low in the current bear market – of 7552.29 on November 20.

The benchmark index was dragged down on fears over the solvency of a number of major banks, including Citigroup and Bank of America, both of which ended the day 14pc lower. The KBW banking sector index fell to its lowest level in 17 years as a result. >>> By James Quinn, Wall Street Correspondent | Friday, February 20, 2009

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