Dow Falls Nearly 300 Points For Second Straight Day: Acadiana Business Index

Wall Street loses ground again as the Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 297 points. Mark Lasseigne has more on another bad day on Wall Street on today's Acadiana Business Index. 

• Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's decision to call a vote on the bailout package sent shock waves across Europe.  Italy's main stock index dropped 6.8 percent, France's fell 5.4 percent and Germany's fell 5 percent.

• On the economic calendar, the U.S. manufacturing sector barely expanded last month, according to the Institute of Supply Management. Spending on construction in the U.S. inched ahead in September, meeting economists' expectations. But the sector continues to struggle with weak demand for new projects.

• U.S. auto sales surge in October. Chrysler lead with 27% sales growth, Ford increased by 6.2%, and GM's sales climb 1.7%.

• In corporate news, Pfizer’s earnings results beat expectations. The company also lifted its forecasts.  PFE up $0.07 to 19.33. Baker Hughes lost 7.6% to 53.54.  The third-quarter earnings rose sharply, but missed Wall Street’s expectations.

• Crude oil settled at $92.19 a barrel.

• And Gold closed higher at $1,711 an ounce.