Stocks slide on worries over Korea, European debt

Stocks sank during Friday's shortened session as jittery traders were afraid to commit to any holdings ahead of the weekend amid lingering uncertainty surrounding Europe's debt troubles and North Korea's war threats.

European stock markets and the euro fell as worries mounted that Portugal will be the next country to need cash from other European Union countries, even as details of Ireland's bailout were being worked out.

On Friday, Portugal adopted a raft of debt-reducing austerity measures, which the government claimed would be enough to restore market confidence in its public finances without resorting to a bailout.

However, that didn't soothe traders who are also nervously eyeing North Korea's threat of war, which could destabilize its neighboring Asian nations.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 95.28 points, or 0.9 percent, to 11,092. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was down 8.95, or 0.8 percent, to 1,189.40. The Nasdaq composite index fell 8.56, or 0.3 percent, to 2,534.56.

The 16-nation euro fell to $1.3244 in midday trading Friday from $1.3368 late Thursday, earlier dipping below $1.32 for the first time since Sept. 21. - AP