Wall Street turns negative after a surprise drop in manufacturing activity.
A surprise drop in a key regional economic indicator sent stocks reeling Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrials sliding more than 90 points.
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index fell to 46.1 in September rather than rising to the 52 that economists expected. The index, considered a precursor to the national Institute for Supply Management index to be released on Thursday, pointed to a Midwestern manufacturing industry than is weaker than had been expected.
