In the largest loss since the crash of 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over seven percent on Thursday, closing below 9,000 for the first time in five years. Over the past six trading days, the Dow has plummeted over 2,200 points, or about 21 percent. USA Today reports the Standard & Poor’s 500 index is now on track for its worst year since 1931. Earlier today, global stock values plummeted in trading as fears grow of a worldwide recession. In Japan, the Nikkei Exchange closed down 9.6 percent. In Australia, stocks fell eight percent.