Uncertainty over the sluggish economy, the direction of interest rates and corporate earnings seemed to be the main reasons.
Concern over first-quarter earnings continued to worry the market, however.
But I also can't completely agree with your qualms over the word "earn" or "earnings".
Instead, analysts obsessed over revenue growth and earnings, if companies had any.
BP has excellent potential but given uncertainty over first-half earnings any recovery will have to wait until the second half.
The contract dispute, over earnings and track closures during future construction, was settled in November.
Drug stocks led blue-chip issues lower on worries over earnings.
The most likely deal killer would be if an announced target had stock losses because of disappointments over earnings.
The stock fell 2 1/8, to 47 5/8, amid worries over earnings and the company's decision to split into two.
It still appeared that concern over earnings has had much more to do with the decline in stocks.