Recession worry pulls Wall Street lower at open

New York: U.S. stocks slid at the open on Wednesday as investors worried that efforts to ease the credit crisis would not avert a recession, overshadowing solid profits from Coca-Cola Co, a bellwether for consumer spending.

The Dow Jones industrial average gave up 161.76 points, or 1.74 percent, at 9,149.23. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 21.32 points, or 2.14 percent, to 976.69. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 24.83 points, or 1.40 percent, to 1,754.18.