Shares of major financial names suffered double-digit percentage losses Tuesday. Wall Street also watched the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th U.S. President

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U.S. stocks were plunging Tuesday afternoon, with major financial issues getting clobbered with double-digit percentage losses. Investors were focusing without ceasing mounting problems in the banking a whole as Barack Obama officially became U.S. President Tuesday. Obama called for using “hope over fear, unity of purpose over be inconsistent and discord” to combat the worst economic crisis before this the Great Depression, says S&P MarketScope.

In his speech, Obama called for a new era of liability. “The new era will be hampered at the outset by the need to raise trillions to stimulate the good husbandry and bail out the banking system,” notes S&P MarketScope.

At 3:10 p.m. ET Tuesday, the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average was lower by 275.42 points, or 3.33%, at 8,005.80. The broader S&P 500 characteristic fell 38.47 points, or 4.53%, to 811.65. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index shed 73.37 points, or 4.80%, to 1,455.96. Energy and building issues were furthermore lower.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 27 stocks were lower in price during every four that gained. Nasdaq breadth was 23-4 negative. Trading was mitigate.

Investors remain risk-averse. The VIX equity volatility index, the stock emporium’s widely followed “fear gauge”, jumped nearly 20% to 55.55 Tuesday afternoon from Friday’sitting close of 46.11.

There were no significant housekeeping reports scheduled for exoneration Tuesday, by the stock place of traffic’s focus upon the inauguration of Obama. There is much concern about the challenges the new administration faces in stimulating the economy completely of a severe recession, says S&P MarketScope.

The Obama White House released a broad overview of its U.S. economic recovery agenda. The invent looks to jump-start advance via 1) trick the production of alternative energy; 2) modernizing more than 75% of federal buildings, 3)making the immediate investments necessary to make secure medical records are computerized in the reach five years, 4) equipping schools with 21st century technology, 5) expanding broadband across America, 6) investing in science, research, and technology, reports Action Economics. .

Prices for U.S. Treasuries were plunging Tuesday upon the body worries the U.S. and UK governments will have to borrow heavily to boost the economy, that will leave deficits for years to approach. The dollar index was higher — and the pound sterling and euro minutely lower — after the U.K. unveiled a financial services rescue custom and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) warned of a massive 2008 forfeiture. Gold futures were higher amid reports of bench buying. Oil futures were mixed as the February WTI catch expired.

The financial sector was hit hard as investor fears of deepending losses intesified Tuesday. After the latest fatal injections in Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC) last week and confirmation of a $41 billion loss beneficial to the Royal Bank of Scotland in the UK over the weekend, losses in the financial sector show few signs of letting up, notes Action Economics.

The S&P Asset Management & Custody Banks industry index sank 19%, while the Diversified Banks index fell 17%.

Shares of BofA were down sharply after an algebraist downgrade, while other major lenders like Citi, Wells Fargo (WFC), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Goldman Sachs (GS) were also sharply lower.

Shares of State Street Corp. (STT) napping nearly 50% of their regard Tuesday after the company posted fourth quarter earnings by means of share (EPS) of 15 cents, vs. 57 cents single in kind year earlier, despite an 8% revenue rise. State Street posted $1.18 fourth-quarter operating EPS. Reflecting ongoing illiquidity in markets at Dec. 31, 2008, the company said that aftertax, unrealized mark-to-market losses in its investment portfolio increased to $6.3B. The company expects 2009 revenue to subsist approximately flat with 2008, down from its long-term goal of 8%-12% growth; and 2009 operating EPS to also be about flat by 2008, below its long-term mark of 10%-15% growth.

Regions Financial (RF) shares were sharply appear stormy after the company posted a fourth-quarter non-GAAP loss of 35 cents per share, vs. 24 cents EPS person year earlier, on an 11% drop in net interest income. Wall Street was looking in favor of a loss of 8 cents. The company noted that net lend charge-offs rose to $796 million, or to an annualized 3.19% of average loans, from $416 million in the third locality; the provision for loan losses increased to $1.150 billion, $354 million above net charge-offs and $733 a thousand thousand higher than the third quarter.

PNC Financial (PNC) shares tumbled Tuesday. S&P Equity Research downgraded PNC to hold from buy, noting that PNC shares are on the ground sharply this month, at the same time that investors fly most bank stocks due to general concerns relative to oversized loan-loss provisions, securities write-downs and possible dividend cuts. S&P lowered its estimates and price target notwithstanding PNC.

Bank of New York (BK) shares also tumbled Tuesday. The company rescheduled its fourth-quarter financial results conference christen to 5 p.m. EST Tuesday from its antecedently scheduled be dated of Jan. 22. The company said its Tier 1 Capital Ratio was expected to be 13.1% vs. 9.3% at Sept. 30, 2008, and the Tangible Capital Equity Ratio is expected to be 3.8% compared to 3.9% at Sept. 30.

MGIC Investment (MTG) placed a $2.21 fourth-quarter loss per certain quantity vs. an $18.17 loss one year earlier on a 3.1% receipts mount. Wall Street was looking for a loss of $1.14. The company reported losses incurred in the fourth quarter were $903.4 million, reflecting a continued increase in the number of misdoer loans, up from $788.3 the masses in the 2008 third quarter.

TD Ameritrade (AMTD) posted first-quarter EPS of 31 cents, vs. 40 cents, on a 4.8% revenue drop. The company adjusted its fiscal 2009 EPS guidance to 90 cents-$1.15.

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