Tuesday

The stock market plummeted today in its biggest drop of the year as escalating tensions in the Middle East and North Africa sent oil prices soaring. Wal-Mart Stores weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, sliding 3.1%. Even after the retailer's fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 27%, capitalizing on strength in its international business, its U.S. operations continued to struggle. Energy components were among the Dow's few stocks to gain today as oil prices surged. Chevron gained 1.6%, while Exxon Mobil rose 1.1%. DJIA -178.76 Nasdaq -77.53 S&P 500 -27.57.