(AP) - Stocks plunged today on growing concerns that The U-S and Chinese economies are cooling.

The dow jones industrial average finished with a loss of 416 points at 12-thousand-217.

The index had been down 546 points or More than four percent an hour before the closing bell. Declining Issues on the new york stock exchange led gainers nearly six-to-one On volume of about four-point-one (b) billion shares. 

The sell-off came in response to a nine percent slide in Chinese stocks overnight, which came a day after a record-high close by Shanghai's benchmark index.

Recent concerns among investors that The u-s economy might be slowing were worsened by a drop in durable goods that was the worst in three months.

Because the worst of the plunge took place after 2:30 p-m Eastern time, the circuit breakers, designed to halt precipitous moves, were not activated.

(Copyright 2007 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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