Stocks Plummet as Crude Oil Prices Spike Above $100

U.S. stocks continued their downward trend on Thursday, as crude oil prices surged back above $100 per barrel.

The major averages finished the day firmly in negative territory, with the Dow falling 316.56 points or 0.6 percent to 52,064.10 and the Nasdaq sliding 171.62 points or 0.7 percent to 26,081.72.

The S&P 500 declined 44.66 points or 0.6 percent to 7,591.70, its lowest closing level in over a month.