Major U.S. stock-indexes extended their losses, but in low volumes, with the S&P 500 hitting a session low and the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq both falling more than 1 percent. Trading in all securities were halted on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday following earlier reports of technical difficulties, although NYSE-listed issues was still trading on other exchanges. U.S. markets were in the red even before the halt, as the slide in Chinese markets spurred concerns over its impact on global economic growth. Beijing unveiled yet another battery of measures to arrest the sell-off in shares and the securities regulator warned of "panic sentiment" gripping investors in the world's second-largest economy. Chinese shares have fallen more than 30 percent in the last three weeks, and some investors fear China's turmoil is now a bigger risk than the crisis in Greece.

Almost of Dow stocks in negative area (29 of 30). Top looser - General Electric Company (GE, -2.00%). Top gainer - Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, +0.29).

S&P index sectors mixed. Top looser - Basic mterials (-1,9%).

At the moment:

Dow 17478.00 -202.00 -1.14%

S&P 500 2046.50 -27.25 -1.31%

Nasdaq 100 4357.00 -65.25 -1.48%

Oil 51.38 -0.95 -1.82%

Gold 1160.70 +8.10 +0.70%

10-year yield 2.23% -0.00