Stocks tumbled Thursday as frozen credit markets and weak U.S. economic reports intensified nervousness ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives vote on the $700 billion financial rescue plan, expected Friday. Credit markets remained tight, with two closely watched measures of bank-lending worries at record highs. Stocks fell slightly Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Senate's 74-to-25 approval of the financial rescue plan. On Thursday, the focus turned to whether the House of Representatives also will pass the modified package. The chamber rejected a similar plan on Monday. In economic news, U.S. factory orders plunged 4 percent in August after rising 0.7 percent the previous month, the government reported. In a second report, the number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose to a seven-year high last week. --MORE
