The CBOE Volatility Index jumped Friday to levels not seen since December 2011, logging its largest ever weekly percentage jump as stocks sold off for a fourth straight session. The VIX, or so called “fear index,” surged more than 47% to 28.21 right after the close. For the week, the index is up nearly 120%, making it the largest weekly percentage jump in the VIX’s history, according to FactSet data. The previous largest surge was back in early May 2010, when the VIX jumped nearly 86% on the week. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index both dropped 5.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 6.8%.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

Apple Inc.’s stock tumbled 5.9% Friday, to enter bear market territory for the first time in over two years. The technology giant’s stock closed at $106.05, or 20.3% below the Feb. 23 record close of $133. Many market watchers define a bear market as a decline of 20% or more from a significant peak. Based on current share counts, the company has lost $153.69 billion in market capitalization during that decline, according to FactSet. The last time Apple was in a bear market was when it plunged 44% from the split-adjusted Sept. 19, 2012 closing peak of $100.30 to the April 19, 2013 close of $55.79.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered its biggest weekly point drop since the worst week of the financial crisis. The Dow tumbled 531.14 points on Friday, and 1,017.85 points, or 5.8%, for the week, amid growing concerns of a slowing global economy. The Dow had tumbled 1,874.19, or 18%, the week ending Oct. 10, 2008, as the collapse of Lehman Bros. rattled global markets. On a percentage basis, this was the blue chip barometer’s worst week since the week ending Sept. 23, 2011, when growing concerns of a double-dip recession in Europe pushed the index down 6.4% on the week.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

U.S. stocks plunged Friday, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average into correction territory as the blue-chip index and the S&P 500 posted their biggest weekly declines since September 2011. The Dow dropped 531.14 points, or 3.1%, to close at 16,459.55, marking a pullback of more than 10% from its record close set in May and meeting a widely-used definition of a market correction. The S&P 500 dropped 64.83 points, or 3.2%, to close at 1,970.90. The Dow and the S&P 500 both fell by around 5.8% on a weekly basis. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 171.44 points, or 3.5%, to 4,706.04, for a weekly decline of 6.8%. The weekly fall was the largest for the tech-heavy index since August 2011.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is shedding 449 points in afternoon trade Friday, extending the 358.04-point selloff on Thursday, as investors grappled with concerns over global economic growth. That puts the blue-chip barometer on track to suffer the biggest two-day point drop (807.07 points) since Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 of 2008, in the midst of the financial crisis, when the Dow tumbled 872.46 points in two days. Back then, the Dow rocketed 892.10 points over the next two sessions.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

The Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its slide Friday, touching correction territory on an intraday basis. The index was down 429 points at 16,562 after trading as low as 16,505.58. The low marked a pullback of more than 10% from the intraday record at 18,351.36. On a closing basis, the Dow would need to trade below 16,481.15 to mark a 10% retreat from the all-time closing high of 18,312.39 set on May 19. A 10% pullback is a widely-used definition of a market correction.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

A man opened fire on a high-speed train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris on Friday, injuring at least two people, Agence France-Presse reported. The shooter was overpowered by passengers and arrested after the train pulled into the station in the northern French town of Arras, AFP reported. The motive for the attack was not immediately known. An American and a Briton were reported to be among those that were injured, according to AFP. France has been on high alert since Islamic extremists attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

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From:: Stock Market News

By Farima Alavi

Designating a study area in your dorm room is essential — you’re going to college to get an education, after all! You may think there’s only so much pizzazz you can add to a desk, but we have the perfect DIY ideas to spruce up every inch of your homework space. Read our tips below to make your desk your favorite spot to study and unwind after a long day of classes.

Add Coziness

You’ll be pulling several all-nighters, especially around midterms and finals. To make your desk more comfortable, place a throw and pillow on your chair. When you aren’t studying, use the pillows as extra seating when you have friends or family over.

Play With Patterns

The standard laminate desktop may cramp your style, so personalize it with removable wallpaper. Play with different patterns, like we did here with an organic floral and hand-drawn geometric X pattern from Chasing Paper. When it comes time to move out, simply peel it off!

Scour the Dollar Store

Add color and fun to your desk with chic (and cheap!) office supplies you can find at your local dollar store or the dollar bins at your favorite big-box stores.

Pick a Palette

Choose a theme or color palette to make it easier to decorate your desk with cohesive accessories. Here, we paired mint green with coral, gold and hot pink accents — and we found scissors to match!

To help you prepare for college, we’re giving away Fiskars school supplies including scissors, mixed media shears, a detail craft knife, cutting mat and SureCut Deluxe paper trimmer. Bonus Prize: The lucky winner will also receive a retro-inspired cat duvet cover from RedBubble.com. For a chance to win, tell us your favorite dorm room hack in the comments section below. Check back next week to see if you’re the winner!

Check out more dorm room ideas from HGTV Crafternoon’s Marianne Canada>>

You may only comment once to be considered, and you don’t have to purchase anything to win; a purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Odds depend on total number of entries. Void where prohibited by law. Only open to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C. or Puerto Rico, and you must be at least 18 years of age to win. All entries (comments) must be entered between 3 p.m. ET on August 21, 2015 and 12:00 p.m. ET on August 24th, 2015. …read more

From:: HGTV