The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 261.49 points, or 1.47 percent, to close at 17,515.42. The S&P 500 index lost 34.66 points, or 1.67 percent, to end at 2,046.68. And the Nasdaq Composite sank 87.7 points, or 1.75 percent, to finish at 4,909.76.

The Visual Marketplace Index shed almost 3 points (2.88) to finish the day down at 250.75.