US stocks fell for a second day as a deteriorating credit outlook for General Electric Co. spurred concern the financial crisis is worsening, while oil’s retreat below $36 a barrel dragged down energy shares.

The S&P 500 declined 2.1 percent to 885.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 219.35 points, or 2.5 percent, to 8,604.99, while the Russell 2000 Index of small companies fell 1.5 percent. Benchmark indexes drifted between gains and losses before sliding to session lows late in the day as GE sank.

(Bloomberg.com)