AP - Stocks capped a difficult week with steep losses Friday amid escalating worries about the financial and automotive sectors and a rebound in oil prices. The major indexes fell by more than 1 1/2 percent on the day, and the Dow Jones industrial average gave up more than 200 points to end at its lowest level in three months.

Reuters - Stocks fell sharply on Friday with the Dow closing below 12,000 for the first time since mid-March as rising oil prices and warnings of more mortgage-related write-downs at banks reignited investor fears of worse to come.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets dropped Friday, with London hit by losses to heavyweight banks after share prices fell further in Japan, traders said.

Reuters - Shares of General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co plummeted after credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's said it may cut the U.S. automakers' ratings.

Reuters - Stocks extended their losses on Friday after Standard and Poor's said it may cut the credit rating of the Big Three automakers, compounding banking-related jitters also driving the market lower.

AP - Stocks tumbled Friday on escalating worries about the financial sector and rebounding oil prices. The major indexes fell more than 1 percent, with the Dow Jones industrials dropping more than 200 points.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as a drop in oil prices fueled investor optimism about consumer spending, driving shares of transportation and retailers sharply higher.

AP - Stocks ended a back-and-forth session with modest advances Thursday as a sharp drop in oil prices helped counter renewed concerns about the strength of the economy.

AP - Japanese stocks dropped on Thursday as selling spread across the board on renewed concern over the health of the U.S. financial sector.

AFP - European stock markets held steady on Thursday after heavy falls across Asia and on Wall Street that were triggered by fresh jitters about soaring oil prices and the global credit crunch, dealers said.