US terror alert hits global markets

UNITED STATES intelligence warnings of al-Qaida threats to attack the New York Stock Exchange, World Bank and International Monetary Fund sent a shiver through global markets yesterday after the US issued a “high” level threat alert and reminded Americans they were a target.

US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told ABC’s “Good Morning America” breakfast television show: “The reality of living in America after September 11 is that we have to accept the fact that from time to time that we’re going to get information about attacks.”

Citigroup Inc, the world’s largest financial company, in New York, and the Prudential Financial building in Newark, New Jersey, were included in the warning he announced on Sunday.