Dow Jones: 11,993.16 (–51.24) SP 500: 1,296.38 (–7.90) Nasdaq: 2,700.97 (–14.64):US STOCKS fell yesterday as investors struggled to assess how much damage Japan's worst earthquake on record will do to the global economy.

General Electric slumped 2.2 per cent as Japan worked to contain radiation at a damaged nuclear plant, compelling other nations to review atomic energy plans.

Coach and Tiffany sank at least 5.2 per cent on concern Japanese sales will suffer.

Las Vegas Sands, a casino company with most of its business in Asia, lost 3.6 per cent.

“The market is pricing in a better understanding of the enormity and complexity of the natural disasters that struck Japan,” said Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer at California-based Pacific Investment Management.

A selloff in Japan spread to Europe and the Americas as workers battled to contain radiation at a damaged nuclear plant north of Tokyo following a second blast. No large release of radiation was detected after the explosion.

The Bank of Japan poured a record amount of cash into the financial system and doubled the size of its asset-purchase plan. The central bank pumped 15 trillion yen into money markets yesterday.

Uranium stocks slumped on concern demand will slow after the Japan accidents. US shares of Canada’s Denison Mines plunged 22 per cent to $2.55.

Entergy declined 4.9 per cent to $70.09. The operator of nuclear power plants was cut to “market perform” from “outperform” by BMO Capital Markets.

Solar stocks rallied amid investors’ expectations that the companies may benefit as demand for alternative energy grows.

MEMC Electronic Materials, the maker of wafers for the semiconductor and solar industries, advanced 11 per cent to $13.37, the biggest gain in the SP 500. First Solar increased 5.1 per cent to $146.91.

Consol Energy gained 4.7 per cent to $50.87. The coal and natural gas producer led other US coal companies higher on expectations that the shutdown of Japanese nuclear reactors will lead to more coal use.

Caterpillar added 2.1 per cent to $102.10, the biggest gain in the Dow. The world’s largest construction equipment maker may be among US companies to benefit as Japan rebuilds. – (Reuters)