The slide in the S&P 500 was a decisive break of an 8 percent rise over the last two weeks as investors lost hope that strong earnings could overcome doubts about the economic outlook.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 261.41 points, or 2.52 percent, to 10,097.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> slid 31.60 points, or 2.88 percent, to 1,064.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 70.03 points, or 3.11 percent, to 2,179.05.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell for the third consecutive day on Friday, ending the week a tad lower, as equities faltered on sour consumer mood, adding to worries about the slowing pace of economic recovery.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, August crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, July 16 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Friday.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - August
CBOT-SOYOIL - August
per lb. Pressure from lower crude oil and profit-taking.
FCPO-JAKARTA, July 16 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil rose 1.58 percent on Friday after reaching a six-week high on concern erratic weather may cut competitive crop yields and on strong demand ahead of Ramadan in August.
The benchmark October contract
REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, July 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets mostly rose on Friday, with Indonesia near a record high and Singapore hitting its highest in more than 10 weeks as investors sought out shares in companies likely to report good results.
Indonesia <.JKSE>, the region's best performer with an 18.1 percent return for the year to date, rose 0.4 percent and was just four points shy of its record high of 2,996.419 on May 4.
In Singapore, top lender DBS Group
Shares in semiconductor distributor Serial System
In Malaysia, financial firm CIMB Group