US markets finished lower yesterday, as growing concerns over the nuclear crisis in Japan overshadowed encouraging comments from the Federal Reserve. Intel led technology stocks lower, dropping 3.2%, after Nomura Holdings downgraded its rating on the stock to “Neutral” from “Buy”, citing weak personal-computer demand. Peers, Oracle, EMC and Dell ended lower between 0.6% and 1.4%.  General Electric, which has joint nuclear ventures with Japan’s Hitachi Ltd, dropped 1.6%, as investors feared about the impact of Japan’s nuclear crisis on the company. Insurers, Hartford Financial, MetLife and Prudential, declined between 1.9% and 5.6%, as concerns grew about the rising costs in Japan. DJIA closed 1.2% lower, at 11,855.4, while NASDAQ closed 1.3% down, at 2,667.3. S&P 500 Index fell 1.1% to 1,281.9.

Other European markets finished lower yesterday, led by losses automobile stocks, as investors fled risky assets, amid rising concerns that damaged nuclear power plants in Japan would leak radiations. Airline stocks, Deutsche Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, plunged 5.9% and 3.6%, respectively, after investors feared lower demand for air travel, following news of a radioactive cloud released from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Utility stocks, E.ON and RWE, dropped 2.8% and 3.6%, respectively, after the German chancellor stated that production would halt at all nuclear power plants that began operation before the end of 1980, for a three-month safety review. Automakers, Renault and Volkswagen, lost 1.6% and 3.8%, respectively, amid fears of a slowdown in demand. FTSEurofirst 300 index slipped 2.2% to 1,084.7. German DAX Xetra 30 slid 3.2% to 6,647.7. French CAC-40 dropped 2.5% to close at 3,780.9.