Stock benchmarks fell for a fourth straight week, putting the market on track for its worst January ever. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week down 507 points, or 4%, at 12,099. It has fallen 10% in four weeks, and is 15% off its October peak. This is the Dow's worst-ever start to a year.
The S&P 500 ended the week down 76, or 5.4%, to 1325, and has pulled back 15% since Oct. 9. The Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 100, or 4.1%, to 2340, and is 18% off its October high. The Russell 2000 Index of small stocks fell 31, or 4.5%, to 673. Its 21% drop since July 13 puts it officially in bear-market territory.