Dow closes at 4-year low as crisis mood sweeps the world

WASHINGTON — The U.S. financial crisis spread around the world like a wildfire on Monday as stock prices plunged here and abroad amid eroding confidence in the world’s banking system.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 800 points before a late rally let it close down "only" 369.88 points, at 9955.50. That’s the first time the Dow closed below 10,000 in almost four years.