Poor retail sales see US stocks tumble

A darkening outlook for companies from banks to retailers to energy producers pummelled Wall Street today, sending the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 250 points, or 2.94%, and giving the other major indexes a loss of 3%.

The plunge leaves the Dow and the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index down more than 9% in six sessions. The S&P 500, the gauge tracked by professional investors, has now given up half its gains since it closed at an 11-year low on November 20.