Around the World's Markets: NEW YORK

WALL STREET stocks slumped as a flurry of global crises weighed on investor sentiment, but bargain hunters emerged late. The Dow ended down 78 points at 8,534, more than 200 points above the low of 8,328.

Analysts were encouraged, but noted that the issues pulling stocks down had not gone away. A sharp rally in the bond market saw yields on the benchmark 30-year US Treasury at new record lows: inflation and interest rates are not a concern on Wall Street.