The wild ride in financial markets, by the numbers (AP)

Global financial markets have been on a wild ride in the last two weeks. Political impasse in Washington has led in the United States close to defaulting on its debt; European leaders scrambled to prevent a debt crisis from spreading in Italy and Spain; and news on the economy of the United States has shown that growth has slowed. Here's how the markets reacted.

U.S. MARKETS:

U.S. Stock indexes entered a correction, which means a decrease of at least 10 percent from a peak recently. Corrections are common during bull markets and do not mean necessarily that stocks are starting a long decline. However, a decline of 20 percent or more generally marks the beginning of a bear market, or a long period of losses on the stock exchange.

• Dow Jones industrial average fell 1,280 points, or 10 percent, from July 21, when it closed at 12.724. 699 points is down this week, the largest weekly point decline since October 2008. The drop week of 5.8 per cent was the worst since March 2009.

• Standard & poor's 500 index, the market's most widely used by professional investors and mutual funds, is 10.8 percent below where it was on 22 July, when its decline began recently. The decline of 7.2% this week was the worst week since November 2008.

• Nasdaq composite index, which includes many technology companies, is down 11.4 percent since July 22. This week, its worst week since November 2008 lost 8.1 per cent.

• Russell 2000 index of small companies in the u.s. is down 15 percent since July 22. Decline of 10.3% this week was the worst since November 2008.

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WORLD MARKETS:

Overseas stock markets also took a beating this week, especially in Europe. Indexes in Italy and Spain have dropped more than 10 percent, as did Germany's DAX and CAC 40-in France. Asian markets didn't rate as pretty bad.

Europe:

• Germany DAX fell 12.9% this week, its worst loss since October 2008.

FTSE 100 • England fell to 9.8 percent, the worst loss since November 2008.

FT-IF MIB of Italy • decreased 13.1 percent, the worst loss since March 2009.

Spain's IBEX 35 fell • 10 percent, its worst loss since May 2010.

Asia:

Japan's Nikkei 225 • fell 5.4 percent, its worst loss since March.

• Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 6.7 percent, the worst loss since March 2009.

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GOVERNMENT SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

Investors rushed to buy Senate seeking safer investments. The price of two-year Treasury Note rose so high that its yield, which moves in the opposite direction of its price, fell to a record low. The 10-year Treasury yield serves as the benchmark for many types of loans. When it falls, are often on mortgages rates and other consumer loans.

• The note of the two-year Treasury yield fell 0.26 percent lower on Thursday, a record low before Friday that rises to 0.29 per cent. It was at 0.36% a week earlier.

• The yield on the 10-year note fell Treasury of 2.56% from 2.80 percent a week earlier. On Thursday, it fell to 2.39%, the lowest level since October.

• The yield on 30-year Treasury bond fell to 3.85 percent from 4.12 percent a week earlier.

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GAINERS AND LOSERS ON WALL STREET

All three major U.S. stock indexes lost more than 5% during the week. The steepest losses were by companies whose profits are more dependent on a growing economy. These include oil companies, producers of raw materials and banks.

• Bank of America Corp. fell 15.9% during the week, the largest loss among the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average.

• Alcoa Inc. fell 13.2 percent on concerns that a global economic slowdown will mean weaker demand for aluminum.

• Kraft Foods Inc., was the only Dow stock between 30 to rise during the week, gaining 1.4 percent. It is divided into two companies, with one focusing on snacks and the other on groceries.

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RAW MATERIALS:

Concerns about the weakening of the economies of the world, has led investors to sell oil and natural gas. I am concerned about the lower energy demand. But the nervousness also led to the gold price, which is considered a safer investment.

• Crude oil fell by 8.8% during the week.

• Natural Gas fell 7.7 percent.

• Gold ended the week at $ 651.80 per ounce. Earlier in the week, rose as high as $1,668. Adjusted for inflation, is still below its peak of 1980.

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