Dow Jones: 11,257.55 (-236.17) Nasdaq: 2,460.08 (-61.02) SP 500: 1,161.79 (-26.25):US STOCKS suffered a sixth straight day of losses yesterday as frustration over the euro zone's debt crisis, coupled with weak Chinese factory data, further dented investor sentiment.

A weak German bond sale sparked fears the debt crisis was even beginning to threaten Berlin, with the leaders of France and Germany still at odds over a longer-term structural solution.

The poor demand for German government bonds showed that investors viewed investing in the euro zone as being too risky.

Debt problems plaguing Europe and the US have pressured markets, knocking the SP 500 down more than 7 per cent over the last six sessions.

World stocks hit their lowest in six weeks yesterday.

All 10 SP 500 sectors were negative, with financials among the biggest decliners over concerns about exposure to European debt.

JPMorgan Chase dropped 3.5 per cent to $28.38 and Citigroup lost 3.9 per cent to $23.51.

Economically sensitive stocks such as energy and commodity-related issues also slid.

The PHLX oil service sector index dropped 3.7 per cent and the SP materials sector fell 2.8 per cent. Schlumberger lost 3.6 per cent to $66.50 and DuPont shed 2.9 per cent to $44.08.

The Dow Jones industrial average sank 236.17 points, or 2.05 per cent, to 11,257.55 at the close. The SPs 500 Index dropped 26.25 points, or 2.21 percent, to 1,161.79.

The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 61.20 points, or 2.43 per cent, to 2,460.08.

The SP 500s six-day decline is the longest such streak since a seven-day slide that ended on August 2nd.

Reflecting heightened fears in the market, the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, Wall Streets so-called fear gauge, jumped 6.3 per cent.

Volume was light ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday, when markets are closed. About 6.9 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex and Nasdaq, below the current daily average of 8 billion shares.

One of the few bright spots was Deere which climbed 3.9 per cent to $74.72 after quarterly earnings beat expectations and sales shot up 20 per cent. – (Reuters)