On the global front: Wall Street declines; Dow ends down 148 points: Asian markets trading weak; Hang Seng, Nikkei down.

On the global front: Wall Street declines; Dow ends down 148 points: Asian markets trading weak; Hang Seng, Nikkei down. US stocks ended a relatively good week on a negative note as investors locked in profits and banking shares took a hit after some bank executives said March had been a tougher month than the earlier two. The Dow plunged 148.38 points, or 1.9%, to 7,776.18. The S&P 500 index declined 16.92 points, or 2%, to 815.94 and the NASDAQ composite index slipped 41.80 points, or 2.6%, to 1,545.20.

Global economic news, personal spending rose for a second straight month climbing 0.2% in February after January's revised 1-percent increase, while income slipped 0.2%. And consumer sentiment improved more than expected in March.