Today's Business Roundup

By Scarlette Whyte

Market

US stocks slump after a shaky trading session and uncertainties around Europe. 

The Dow slipped nearly 200 points.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq sank as well.

Occupy Wall Street

Today marks the two month anniversary since the Occupy Wall Street protests started and the demonstrations have not simmered down. The protestors linked arms to form man-made barricades to stop Wall Street employees from going to work. Approximately 7 police officers have been hospitalized. Protests have spread throughout the country. In Washington D.C., demonstrators plan to block the Key Bridge, which will block traffic between D.C. and Arlington, Virginia.   

Europe Debt Crisis

The ongoing debt crisis paints a very bleak picture for Europe. Spain was forced to offer record euro-era yields at its government-bond auction as a result of investors’ demands for higher risk premiums. 

Jobs

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell again this week; the lowest level since the week of April 2nd. This could be a signal of progress in the US jobs market. Jobless benefits fell by 500,000 to a seasonally adjusted 388,000 for the week that ended November 12th.