This is from USA Today [Fair Use: For Educational/Research Puposes Only] 02/11/00- Updated 08:48 PM ET

Dow Officially in a Correction

Are Stocks Headed for Trouble?

Analyst David Jones: Rising rates could continue to hamper stocks NEW YORK -- The week ahead in financial markets could be a roller coaster ride, experts say. Key inflation reports are due out. Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is set to give his semi-annual economic outlook to Congress. This comes after the Dow Jones industrial average wrapped up its biggest weekly loss since October. For the week, the Dow dropped 4.9%, its biggest loss since Oct. 15, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 2.6%. The Dow is 11% below its Jan. 14 record close, more than the 10% most analysts consider a "correction." Some experts say the sell-off could gain momentum as fear builds that recent gains have pushed prices higher than the outlook for corporate profits justifies. Others say the losses reflect typical profit-taking. Microsoft and Cisco Systems, the two largest companies by market value, led Friday's sharp decline. The Nasdaq composite index lost 90.11, or 2%, to 4395.52 after setting four records in five days. The Dow fell 218.42, or 2.1%, to 10,425.21. The S&P 500 declined 29.72, or 2.1%, to 1387.11.

-- Zdude (zdude777@hotmail.com), February 12, 2000