US stocks traded sharply lower as further decline in oil price rattled nervous investors.
By Wednesday noon, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 458.29 points, or 2.86 percent, to 15,557.73, Xinhua news agency reported.
The S&P 500 sank 56.09 points, or 2.98 percent, to 1,825.24.
The Nasdaq Composite Index plummeted 133.25 points, or 2.98 percent, to 4,343.70.
Oil prices continued to trade near multi-year lows on Wednesday, dragged down by a global supply glut.
The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery slipped below $27 a barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.