U.S. stocks down financial stocks were particularly bleak.

<P> U.S. stocks ended sharply lower Thursday, as investors in the credit and mortgage market worries; Annaly Capital Management, Washington Mutual and the Swiss Bank (UBS) down, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Wal-Mart Stores) and H & .; R Block is against the market trend. .</ P> <P> It http://finance. News, Dow Jones Industrial Average index closed down 214.60 points to 12,040.39 points, down 1.75%; Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 29.36 points to 1304.34 points, down 2.2 .%; the Nasdaq composite index fell 52.31 points to 2220.50 points, down 2.3%. .</ P> <P> steadily throughout the day today, the stock market lower on news that Carlyle Group (Carlyle Group) unit of Carlyle Capital and Thornburg Mortgage failed to meet margin requirements. .The news also dragged down other financial stocks, the stock of such a heavy blow. .</ P> <P> ads Wells Capital Management's chief investment strategist at James • Paulson (James Paulsen) said the weakness in financial stocks was the catalyst behind the bank will write down people's concerns more assets, If so ., the credit crunch will worsen; today is really worried about the stock market decline caused economic reports released this week doing quite well. .</ P> <P> mortgage-related shares were hit. .Thornburg Mortgage and a subsidiary of The Carlyle Group said they failed to meet the residential mortgage-backed securities related to additional margin requirements. .Banking, mortgage lending financial institutions, particularly mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) suffered heavy losses. .Annaly Capital Management fell $ 3.47, to $ 15.81, down 18%. .</ P> <P> government-sponsored mortgage finance agencies Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae, referred to as: Fannie Mae) or $ 2.57, to $ 21.70, down 11%. .Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Federal Home Loan Mortage Corporation, Freddie Mac) or $ 1.50, to $ 20.14, down 6.9%. .</ P> <P> other financial stocks were also weak. .CIT Group tumbled $ 4.50, to $ 15.86, down 22%. .Keefe, Bruyette & Woods said, CIT Group could not be diminished in mind a large number of private student loan portfolio assets and the company expected first-quarter earnings per share down from 76 cents to 8 cents. .</ P> <P> Swiss Bank fell $ 1.31, to $ 29.52, down 4%, due to market concerns about the bank again, the more massive write-downs of assets related to U.S. housing loans. .</ P> <P> Merrill Lynch (Merrill Lynch) lost $ 3.46, to $ 45.86, down 7%. .The company on Thursday said it has more than 20 billion dollars of revenue options liquidity instruments (LYON) related articles were amended to increase the conversion rate of 17%. .Merrill Lynch said the bill would increase the redemption date for two days, respectively, September 13, 2010 and March 13, 2014; holders may require Merrill Lynch will redeem the notes. .</ P> <P> Washington Mutual fell $ 1.04, to $ 11.76, down 8.1%. .Bear Stearns (Bear Stearns) Washington Mutual analysts cut profit forecasts. .Bear Stearns also lowered its National City, Wells Fargo (Wells Fargo) and SunTrust Banks of the fiscal year earnings forecasts. .National City fell 62 cents to $ 14.52, down 4.1%. .Wells Fargo fell $ 1.15, to $ 27.83, down 4%. .SunTrust fell $ 2.20, to $ 54.23, down 3.9%. .</ P> <P> H & R Block rose 59 cents to $ 17.83, or 3.4%. .The company's third-quarter loss narrowed. .</ P> <P> retailers report monthly sales release has also been a concern. .As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in February same-store sales strong growth over the same period by 2.6%, an increase of 1.1% more than previously expected, thus the stock as the Dow Jones stock index on Thursday only a rising stock. .The stock rose 43 cents to $ 49.98, or 0.9%. .</ P>.