Both the MICEX and RTS exchanges in Russia were forced closed after hitting a low mark.

The Nikkei 225 is off -104.66 (1.35%), Hang Seng is off -510 (3.79%), and Straits Times is off -42.78 (2.55%).

Back in Europe, the FTSE 100 is down -110.26 (2.67%). DAX is down -156.66 (3.58%) and and the CAC 40 is off -93.21 (3.15%).

Home in the United States the picture isn’t any brighter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down -231.22 (2.95%). The NASDAQ is off –48.32 (3.15%) and the S&P -28.51 (3.45%). Even the 10-year bond is down.

By the way, this comes as President Obama is set to sign the stimulus bill that will supposedly save the economy tonight. Sounds like the investors are really optimistic about that.