Stocks extend slide after Paulson’s comments

Stocks extended losses on Wednesday after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said his department would consider capital needs of non-bank financial institutions, renewing concerns about the scope of problems in the U.S. economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 294.94 points, or 3.39 percent, at 8,399.02. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 30.39 points, or 3.38 percent, at 868.56. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 44.55 points, or 2.82 percent, at 1,536.35.