American Express shares fell $1.59, or more than 3.8 percent, to $39.71 a share yesterday, its biggest one-day loss in two weeks.

It was the second recent rout for the stock, which suffered a one-day loss of 13 percent on June 9.

Precious metals prices plunged, with gold registering its biggest one-day loss since early 1983.

The disaster remains the greatest one-day loss of life since the war began, by a large measure.

Wal-Mart had its biggest one-day loss in 19 months, falling $3.56, to $49.88.

Its stock fell 1 1/4, to 35, for a one-day loss in market capitalization of about $254 million.

In India, the stock market plunged 11 percent, its biggest one-day loss since 1992.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 36.20 points, its largest one-day loss in three months, to close at 3,268.96.

On Monday, Japanese stocks suffered their worst one-day loss in nearly three and a half years.

A late selloff hurt stock prices, with the Dow average closing down 36.47 points, its largest one-day loss in three months.