Fiscal Cliff Worries Further Depress Stock Market

The prospect of the president and Congress "fixing" the problem is depressing

Investors engaged in a broad sell-off as President Obama prepares to meet with congressional leaders this week to discuss the "fiscal cliff."

The president met with major corporate chief executives Wednesday to discuss how to avert the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes that could push the U.S. economy back into recession.

Major U.S. stock indexes ended Wednesday down more than 1.3%.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 185.23 points, or 1.5%, to 12,570.95 at the closing bell on Wall Street.