Dow plummets on subprime concerns

Stocks fell sharply today, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling more than 200 points in afternoon trading as investors worried about subprime mortgage losses, a decline in the U.S. dollar and weak retail sales. The Dow closed down 245.94, or 2%, at 12,072.68; the S&P 500 fell 28.64, or 2.04%, ending at 1,377.96; and the Nasdaq composite closed down 50.67, or 2.11%, to 2,351.62. All numbers are preliminary.