Images: U.S. and other world markets drop sharply.
A visitor holds prayer beads as he watches financial data on screens inside the Dubai Financial Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Dubais stock index retreated to the lowest since March as global financial markets slumped amid concern that Standard & Poors downgrading of the U.S.s credit rating may stall the global economic recovery.
Bloommberg
Pedestrians watch the market fall on stock indicators outside a bank in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Asian stocks nose-dived Monday as the first downgrade of the U.S. governments credit rating jolted the global financial system, reinforcing fears that the world economy is weakening.
Associated Press
A broker scratches his head at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, where the stock index fell after the opening of trading. Global stock markets sank again Monday as worries about the downgrade of U.S. debt outweighed relief at a European Central Bank pledge to buy up Italian and Spanish bonds to help the two countries avoid devastating defaults.
Associated Press
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
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A broker reacts at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, as the stock index fell slightly after the opening of trading. The borrowing costs of both Spain and Italy dropped sharply in early trading Monday after the European Central Bank signaled it would intervene in the markets to keep the two countries bond prices supported.
Associated Press
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
A broker watches his screens under the curve of the German stock index DAX at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, where the stock index went down after the opening of the stock market.
Associated Press
An investor looks at the stock price monitor at a private securities company Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 in Shanghai, China. Asian stocks dropped sharply Monday as the first downgrade of the U.S. governments credit rating jolted the global financial system, reinforcing fears of a rapid slowdown in economic growth.
Associated Press
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
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A woman shelters next to a currency exchange bureau in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, with foreign currency assets worth $288 billion as of June 30, said U.S. bonds and the dollar are still safe.
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A stock trader looks to a graph of the activity on the Gold market in Paris, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Spanish and Italian stocks led European markets higher Monday as investors breathed a sigh of relief that the European Central Bank would buy the two countries bonds in order to lower their borrowing costs.
Associated Press
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
People walk past an electronic billboard displaying the Hang Seng Index intraday chart in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Hong Kong stocks dropped, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index set for its biggest two-day slide since October 2008, after Standard & Poors cut the U.S. credit rating, raising concern global economic growth will slow.
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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
A broker looks on in front of the main screen at the Stock Exchange in Madrid Monday Aug. 8, 2011. The borrowing costs of both Spain and Italy dropped sharply in early trading Monday after the European Central Bank signaled it would intervene in the markets to keep the two countries bond prices supported. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Associated Press
Financial data is displayed on a screen at the Dubai Financial Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Dubais stock index retreated to the lowest since March as global financial markets slumped amid concern that Standard & Poors downgrading of the U.S.s credit rating may stall the global economic recovery.
Bloommberg
Visitors watch financial data on screens inside the Dubai Financial Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Dubais stock index retreated to the lowest since March as global financial markets slumped amid concern that Standard & Poors downgrading of the U.S.s credit rating may stall the global economic recovery.
Bloommberg
A broker covers his face behind his screen at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, where the stock index went down after the opening of the stock market.
Associated Press
A woman walks past an electronic billboard displaying the Hang Seng Index intraday chart in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Hong Kong stocks dropped, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index set for its biggest two-day slide since October 2008, after Standard & Poors cut the U.S. credit rating, raising concern global economic growth will slow.
Bloommberg
Robert Halver, chief analyst of a German private bank makes a phone call under the curve of the German stock index DAX at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, where the stock index went down after the opening of the stock market.
Associated Press
A stock trader points to a graph of activity on the French Stock Exchange in Paris, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Spanish and Italian stocks led European markets higher Monday as investors breathed a sigh of relief that the European Central Bank would buy the two countries bonds in order to lower their borrowing costs.
Associated Press
A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. U.S. stock futures retreated, following the biggest weekly drop in the Standard & Poors 500 Index since 2008, amid concern that a downgrade of the nations credit rating by S&P may worsen an economic slowdown.
Bloommberg
Pedestrians pass the London Stock Exchange in London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Spanish and Italian stocks led European markets higher Monday as investors breathed a sigh of relief that the European Central Bank would buy the two countries bonds in order to lower their borrowing costs.
Associated Press
A man walks past a screen displaying the Hong Kong Stock index outside a local bank in Hong Kong Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Asian stocks nose-dived Monday as the first downgrade of the U.S. governments credit rating jolted the global financial system, reinforcing fears that the world economy is weakening.
Associated Press
A pedestrian looks at an electronic stock board displaying a midday figure of the Nikkei 225 Stock Average outside a securities firm in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Japanese stocks dropped, sending the Nikkei 225 Stock Average to its biggest two-day decline since March, after Standard & Poors Ratings Services cut the U.S. governments credit rating, damping the outlook for Asias banks and exporters.
Bloommberg
Investors monitor prices and make trades at a securities exchange house in Shanghai, China, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Chinas stocks fell, dragging the benchmark index down 20 percent from a November high, as the loss of Americas top credit rating fueled concern global economic growth will slow.
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