WIG 20 falls below 1,000 points as markets react to worldwide panic

The panic that struck bourses worldwide after the September 11 terrorist attack on the US reached Poland on Friday, causing a massive sell-off on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). The WIG 20 blue-chip index, which in mid-trading fell below the psychologically important 1,000-point barrier, closed at 1,001, a loss on the day of 4.2%. The gloomy outlook for the Polish economy and the phantom of worldwide conflict sent nervous shock waves through the markets. Still, investor sentiments may improve a little, since the markets may see the SLD-UP election victory as a stabilizing factor. (Prawo i Gospodarka, Sept. 22-23, pp. 1, 10) J.K.