Akhir 12, 1432 / March 17, 2011, SPA -- U.S. stalks plunged on Wednesday, with all three major indexes ending at their lowest levels of 2011, as investors received reports on disappointing U.S. housing data and developments in Japan. In international news, European Union energy commissioner Gunther Oettinger warned about increasing risks related to Japan's damaged nuclear reactors at a meeting in Brussels. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo warned American citizens living within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to evacuate or take shelter indoors. In world markets, Tokyo's Nikkei index rose 5.7 percent, rebounding from two days of losses that caused the index to drop more than 16 percent. Asian markets ended higher, while European markets closed sharply lower. --More
