NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks plunged to their lowest levels in nearly 12 years as risk aversion and the weight of a global recession sparked a broad-based decline led by industrial heavyweights such as General Electric and Alcoa.
After a bank-led 485-point slide last week sent the Dow to new bear market lows, a more broad selloff Monday pushed the index even lower Monday. Setting off the declines was a drop of 48 cents, or 7.6%, to 5.81, for Alcoa, and 53 cents, or 5.7%, to 8.85, for General Electric.
For GE, traders continue to view the industrial conglomerate as basically a financial firm, with a Deutsche Bank analyst saying there's a growing risk that GE will have to cut its dividend to support its GE Capital unit. For banks, and all of the companies that rely on the credit markets to sustain growth, a continued fear about what still remains on corporate balance sheets reigns.
"Where there has been smoke so far, there has eventually been fire every time," said David Klaskin, chief investment officer for Oak Ridge Investments in Chicago.
Overall, the Dow closed down 250.89 points, or 3.41%, to 7114.78, marking its lowest closing point since May 7, 1997. In 10 sessions, the Dow has lost more than 14% and is down 19% for the year.
Former Dow-component American International Group also weighed on the broad indexes, with CNBC reporting that AIG is in talks with the U.S. government about securing more funds to be able to continue operating after March 2. Traders say any move to help the giant insurer could delay government officials from more pressing issues within the economy and banking system.
AIG, now a small-cap, closed down a penny, or 1.9%, at 53 cents.
The Standard & Poor's 500 slid 26.72, or 3.47%, to 743.33, marking an 11-year closing low and passing through its closing low of 752.44 made in November. Though the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined more than the other broad indices, off 53.51, or 3.71%, to 1387.72, it remains up more than 5% from its November closing lows.
It was notable the financial sector didn't take part in the broad market declines as talk of an expanded U.S. government stake in Citigroup prompted some gains for banks. Citigroup shares rose 19 cents, or 9.7%, to 2.14. Bank of America, which has also been subject to speculation about a possible government takeover, gained 12 cents, or 3.2%, to 3.91.
But traders note a heavy reliance on Washington isn't healthy for banking stocks long-term. And the broad stock declines have fed into the same level of concern from investors in late 2008, when money managers said many of their clients were increasingly asking for the safest route possible.
"People are totally risk averse to anything right now. They're backing off any asset allocation and just getting out as it's going to take a while before any stimulus money moves in," said Thomas Nyheim, a portfolio manager with Christiana Bank & Trust.
Elsewhere among banking stocks, Royal Bank of Scotland gained 29 cents, or 5.2%, to 5.83, after reports that it would follow in Citigroup's footsteps with a breakup in which it would hive off assets it plans to sell.
However, UBS and other Swiss banks dropped on continued worries about their investment-banking operations. UBS closed down 1.32, or 14%, at 8.39.
Shares of managed-care providers dropped sharply Monday after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Friday private Medicare plans would see a modest 0.5% increase in the 2010 fiscal year under tentative projections, a growth rate that would come in well below some analysts' expectations. Shares of UnitedHealth Group declined 4.16, or 15%, to 23.82 and Humana fell 9.71, or 24%, to 30.83.
Ford Motor gained 15 cents, or 9.5%, to 1.73 as the car maker reached a tentative deal over unionized retiree health benefits Monday, increasing the chances that General Motors and Chrysler can secure their own concessions. GM closed unchanged at 1.77.
On the earnings front, Campbell Soup reported a 15% decline in fiscal second-quarter net income on falling volume and the stronger dollar. The soup maker closed down 82 cents, or 2.8%, at 28.63.
Garmin gained 1.11, or 7.3%, to 16.28 on Nasdaq. The maker of global positioning systems' fiscal fourth-quarter net income dropped 49% on falling sales and margins.
Fitch Ratings further downgraded the credit ratings of Mexican cement maker Cemex SAB, off 36 cents, or 6%, to 5.64, citing concerns about the company's level of debt.
*Courtesy of MarketWatch
*Courtesy of MarketWatch
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