RENEE MONTAGNE, host: NPR's business news starts with global markets spooked by the recession.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Stock investors in Asia headed for the exits today. Japan's main index fell more than six percent. South Korea was down more than three percent. Hong Kong's main stock average fell nearly five percent, partly on grim economic news out of China.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, host: And partly, perhaps, on grim economic news out of the United States, the Dow fell nearly eight percent yesterday, and that came after the National Bureau of Economic Research issued a report declaring that the U.S. is officially in recession.
Japan's main index fell more than 6 percent. South Korea was down more than 3 percent. Hong Kong's main stock average fell nearly 5 percent, partly on grim economic news out of China. The drop in world markets follows a nearly 8 percent plunge in the Dow, after the National Bureau of Economic Research issued a report declaring that the U.S. officially is in recession.