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Empresas y finanzas

Poor outlooks, energy batter stocks


    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Thursday as a sharp decline in oil prices sent the energy sector tumbling and disappointing profit outlooks from large companies such as Merck raised the specter of a worsening economy.

    * Chevron was among the top drags on the Dow, after oil prices fell nearly 7 percent.

    * Investors were also digesting the latest pitch to Congress from automakers in Washington for a rescue package.

    * According to the latest available figures, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 215.45 points, or 2.51 percent, at 8,376.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 25.50 points, or 2.93 percent, at 845.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index sank 46.82 points, or 3.14 percent, at 1,445.56

    (Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Kenneth Barry)