stock markets around the world have dropped sharply amid fears the US economy could be heading for recession Japan's niik share index plunged more than 12% at the close today its biggest fall since Black Monday in October 1987 Hong Kong's hang sen fell by 1 a half% in the UK uh the foot SE 100 is currently down uh just a shade over 2% and in France the CAC Kant is also down by 1.62%