U.S. stocks fell in the market’s worst two-day slump in six years on concern Congress will hold up a $700 billion bank bailout that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said is critical to preventing a recession.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 18.87 points, or 1.6 percent, to 1,188.22, capping a two-day decline of 5.3 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 161.52, or 1.5 percent, to 10,854.17, erasing a 128-point rally. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined 25.64, or 1.2 percent, to 2,153.34.

(Bloomberg.com)