Richard Drew / AP Photo
At least they didn't go much lower? Despite a few attempts to rally purchasing after yesterday's steep decline, the markets stayed down for the count on Tuesday with virtual flatlines. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 37 points, or 0.6%, ending at 6726, and the S&P and Nasdaq Composite each each slipped a fraction of one percent. The Wall Street Journal reports that abysmal February sales results from Ford and General Motors dampened financiers best attempts at a rally. Though the Treasury approved further loan facilitation for banks and creditors, financial stocks continued to drop. Life insurers took the hardest hit—investors are waiting for news on life insurers' access to TARP funds—Metlife fell 16% and Hartford Financial Services Group dropped 9%.