Indexes Drop Hard, VIX Soars, Apollo Rockets

U.S. stock indexes stumbled into Bear Market territory today on record high oil prices, tumbling steel makers and weak factory orders. The DJIA fell -166.75 to 11215.51, the Nasdaq gave back -53.50 to 2251.46 and the S&P 500 lost -23.39 to 1261.52.

Apollo Group (APOL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) rocketed up 18.72% or $8.66 to $54.92/share as the operator of University of Phoenix reported quarterly earnings that beat analysts estimates.

US Steel (X | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) tumbled 12.65% or $22.18 to $153.17/share on collapsing auto sales fears.

Family Dollar Stores (FDO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) climbed 8.33% or $1.69 to $21.98/share due to bargain hunting consumers.

Aladdin Knowledge Systems (ALDN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) - The Israeli security company collapsed 33.63% or $4.46 to $8.80/share after order delay forecasts and the strong shekel.

The VIX soared 9.60% to 25.92 on extreme market volatility, gold climbed $2.00 to $946.50/oz and oil struck $143.85/barrel rising $2.88.