Stocks Ended Sharply Lower, Dow Tumbled 800 Points

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower on Wednesday, with the Dow tumbling 800 points, after the bond market flashed its brightest warning signal yet presaging a potential recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 800.49 points, or 3.05%, to 25,479.42. The S&P 500 dropped 85.72 points, or 2.93%, to 2,840.60. The Nasdaq Composite was down 242.42 points, or 3.02%, to 7,773.94.

Oil futures ended lower on Wednesday for the first time in five sessions, after a U.S. government report revealed that domestic crude inventories rose for a second week in row, and as the risks of an economic recession fed worries about energy demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery fell $1.87, or 3.3%, to settle at $55.23 a barrel. October Brent crude declined $1.82, or 3%, to $59.48 a barrel.