Around the World's Markets: New York

A PLUNGING Brazilian market reawakened fears of large Latin American losses, pulling the Dow Jones back below the 9,000 threshold.

J.P. Morgan fell 4 per cent, accounting for one fifth of the fall in the Index, while Merrill Lynch dropped nearly 4 per cent.

Computer and telecommunications stocks rose, and there was hope that the European interest rate cut could stimulate exports. "This is good news for the marketplace," one trader said.