The stock market ended a wild, roller-coaster week on a down note, with the major indexes skidding between one and two percent today.
Meanwhile, U.S. oil futures plunged ten percent -- the biggest one-day decline in more than five years -- after OPEC’s allies rejected additional production cuts. West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery plummeted $4.62 to settle at $41.28 a barrel.
A great number of would-be cruise travelers are backing out on their own, but with the coronavirus spreading across more and more of the U.S., the Trump Administration is said to be considering ways to try to dissuade even more travelers from taking cruises. Citing officials familiar with the situation, Reuters reports that while no final decision has been made, various options are being considered ahead of a weekend meeting between cruise-industry officials and Vice President Mike Pence.
Carnival Cruise Lines shares dipped 2.5 percent, while Norwegian Cruise slid 5.2 percent.
After falling more than 700 points mid-day, the Dow closed down 256 points, or nearly one percent. The Nasdaq dropped 162 points, or 1.87 percent.