![A trader reacts on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. On Monday, major U.S. stock indexes plunged 7% before trading was halted. [David Dee Delgado / Getty Images]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b0ad345/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4921x3687+0+0/resize/840x630!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F03%2F813625360_958367747.jpg)
Trading on the New York Stock Exchange was halted Monday after indexes plunged 7% in reaction to Saudi Arabia's sudden oil-price cut. The financial market chaos is the latest reaction to the coronavirus epidemic.
In early trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 1,900 points — more than 19% off its February peak. Stocks fell sharply in Asia and Europe.
The price of oil was also fell — down 21% on Monday following the unexpected Saudi move.
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