Dow closes down 390 points, markets complete worst-ever two-week start to year

U.S. stocks plunged again Friday, completing the worst two-week start to a year ever.

The market was rattled by yet another tumble in the price of oil that slammed energy companies and on a government report showing a dip in retail sales.

The price of oil sank below $30 a barrel and is trading at the lowest level since 2003.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 390 points, or 2.4 percent, to close at 15,988. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 44 points, or 2.3 percent, to 1,876. The Nasdaq fell 126 points, or 2.7 percent, to 4,488.

- FWBP Digital Partners -

The Dow and the S&P 500 are both down 8.2 percent since the beginning of the year. The Nasdaq is down 10.4 percent.