SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stocks ended a volatile day with steep losses Wednesday, as rising worries about radiation leaks from nuclear reactors damaged in last week's Japanese earthquake prompted a broad selloff. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 242.12 points, or 2%, at 11,613.30. It had turned lower for the year during the day but finished 0.3% higher than its Dec. 31 close. The S&P 500 fell 24.99 points, or 2%, at 1,256.88 points, down 0.1% for the year. The Nasdaq Composite fell 50.51 points, or 1.9%, to 2,616.82, down 1.4% for the year so far.

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