Gustav Klimt The Kiss painting

Gustav Klimt The Kiss painting
Gustav Klimt Sea Serpents painting
performance since 1981. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index (^SPX) fell 37.01 points, or 2.80 percent, to 1,283.27. The S&P 500 ended 2000 with its worst annual performance since 1977. Tuesday's selloff followed economic data that showed U.S. manufacturing fell to its lowest level in a decade, providing more signs that confirmed the cooling of the U.S. economy. The National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM) said its purchasing managers' index, a gauge of manufacturing across the United States, tumbled to 43.7 from 47.7 in November. Economists had forecast the index would fall a little, to 47.0. U.S. Treasuries roared higher after the report, which sparked market hopes for imminent interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Bonds also have become more attractive in recent weeks, thanks to the continuing carnage in the equity markets.