U.S stocks have plunged for a second day as weak economic and corporate data are triggering broad fears about the economy, the Associated Press reported.
The pullback Thursday brings the major market indexes' two-day declines to about 10 percent. The losses have erased more than half of the market's recent advance.
Comments from computer gear maker Cisco Systems warning of slumping demand and retailers reporting weak sales for October have been the latest triggers for selling.
The Dow Jones industrials are ending down 443, or 4.9 percent, to the 8,696 level after falling 5 percent
Wednesday.