NEW YORK - The Dow sank into a bear market on Wednesday as US stocks fell on growing concerns about the toll that record oil prices are taking on the economy and corporate profits. The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 166.75 points, or 1.46 per cent, to 11,215.51. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 23.39 points, or 1.82 per cent, to close at 1,261.52, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 53.51 points, or 2.32 per cent, to 2,251.46. LONDON - UK stocks shed 1 per cent, extending the previous session’s sharp losses as miners fell on weaker coal prices and Marks & Spencer slumped after a profit warning, though drugmakers rose. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,426.3 points, down 53.6 or 0.98 per cent. FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,305.42 points, down 10.52 or 0.17 per cent. PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4,296.48 points, down 44.73 or 1.03 per cent. TOKYO ...

Big miners drag down share market THE Australian share market was weaker at noon as losses in the resources sector continued to weigh, although banking stocks recovered. At 12 noon AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 26.5 points to 5114.4 while the broader All Ordinaries shed 30.6 points to 5230.5. The September share price index futures contract was 20 points lower at 5118 on a volume of 20,255 contracts. During the morning, the S&P/ASX200 index had reached a low of 5060.6, close to its 2008 trough of 5039.60 reached on March 17. Macquarie Equities adviser Helen Spencer said banking stocks had recovered from their morning lows as investors took heart from increased confidence that the central bank was unlikely to raise interest rates again this year. “While the market pulling is down a bit because of resources, the financials have had a great result,” Ms Spencer said. “Talk about holding interest rates steady would also be ...