EQUITIES

JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America led bank stocks lower on Tuesday after mortgage lawsuits filed late on Friday aggravated investor fears that the biggest banks could face massive legal liabilities.

Increases in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, in addition to the fact reinsurers are trading below book value, have made investors unwilling to inject capital into struggling reinsurers in the event of another loss-making event, Standard & Poor's (S&P) said on Tuesday.

JPMorgan Chase & Co, the second largest U.S. bank by assets, led a broader decline in bank share prices, as investors feared lenders face a growing list of lawsuits due to problem mortgages.

Wall Street stocks tumbled for a third session on Tuesday on rising concerns about the euro zone's debt crisis and the outlook for the global economy.

Wall Street stocks tumbled on Tuesday on rising concerns the euro zone's debt crisis could hurt the global economy.

The New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Amex Cash Markets invoked a rule to smooth trading at the market open on Tuesday as futures pointed to a sharp drop in the major indexes.

Major stock indexes fell more than 2 percent on Tuesday on fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis was worsening and the U.S. economy was sliding back into recession.

Stocks were poised to fall sharply at the open on Tuesday on fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis was worsening and the U.S. economy was slipping back into a recession.

Stocks fell more than two percent in early trading on Tuesday on fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis was worsening and the U.S. economy was sliding back into a recession.

Stock index futures fell on Tuesday, putting the S&P 500 on track for a third straight decline, on renewed fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis was worsening and tracking European stocks.

The European Union is stockpiling rare earths, vital for many high-technology industries, to reduce its dependence on China, a spokesman for the EU industry commissioner said on Tuesday.

Switzerland's central bank stepped in to stop investors driving up the franc on Tuesday, sending the euro up nearly 9 percent and stifling a tentative European stock recovery from sharp losses a day earlier.

Asian shares and the euro fell on Tuesday, gold jumped to a fresh record while European stocks appear set to slide further on fears that Europe's sovereign debt troubles are worsening and could trigger a second full-blown banking crisis.

Stock futures tumbled more than 2 percent on Monday in electronic trading, hit hard after European markets slumped on renewed fears the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis is worsening.

Stocks fell on Monday and the euro hit a three-week low versus the dollar as worries about Greek and Italian fiscal deficits and a regional election rout for Germany's ruling party cast more doubt on the euro zone's ability to solve its debt crisis.

World stocks fell to a one-week low on Monday and the euro hit a three-week trough against the dollar as investors worried the U.S. jobs market may be beyond easy repair and Europe faced a series of risks that would reignite its debt crisis.

European shares were set for sharp losses on Monday after Asian stocks slid and the euro hit a three-week low against the dollar, as fears of a renewed U.S. recession and sustained worries about the euro zone debt crisis prompted investors to sell riskier assets.

Asian stocks fell and the euro slipped to a three-week low against the dollar on Monday as fears of renewed recession in the United States and sustained worries about the euro zone debt crisis prompted investors to sell riskier assets.

Stocks tumbled 2 percent on Friday after data showing zero jobs growth in August brought investors face-to-face with the prospect of another recession.

Stocks tumbled 2 percent on Friday after data showing zero jobs growth in August brought investors face-to-face with the prospect of another recession.

Wall Street stocks dropped more than 2 percent on Friday as Labor Department data showed jobs growth flatlined in August, intensifying worries the economy is staggering.

Wall Street stocks dropped on Friday, with major indexes falling as much as 2 percent as Labor Department data showed jobs growth flatlined in August, intensifying worries the economy is staggering.

Wall Street stocks tumbled on Friday, with major indexes falling as much as 2 percent as data showed U.S. jobs growth flatlined in August, exacerbating worries the economy is faltering.

Stocks opened more than 1 percent lower on Friday after data showed U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in August, adding to worries about the health of the economy.

The great August stock selloff has been far from uniform. Some sectors are now pricing in a far bigger risk of recession than others, leaving islands of potential value for the brave.

Wall Street was set to fall more than 1 percent at the open on Friday after data showed U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in August, adding to worries about the health of the economy.

Stock index futures fell on Friday ahead of labor market data expected to underscore fears the economy is headed for another recession and as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis resurfaced.

Stock index futures fell on Friday ahead of labor market data expected to underscore fears the economy is headed for another recession and as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis resurfaced.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 all down 0.7 percent at 5:18 a.m. EDT on fears the U.S. non-farm payrolls could be weaker than expected.