the benchmark index is at the lowest level since march, with stoxx 50 at 25.93. the dow jones industrial is down, just a little bit, and the euro is trading for $1.42. >> the un security council is meeting to discuss the violent crackdown in syria. witnesses say that they're facing the heaviest attacks yet in the city. more than 100 people were gunned down during the weekend. >> the tanks are firing at the protesters and people are dying. this footage shows the city where six civilians were killed on monday according to opposition forces. this damage to a mosque supposedly happened on august 1 during the holy month of ramadan. the residents of the city say that the worst of the bloodshed was on sunday. there are reports that support -- supplies of food and medicine are running low. >> this is more than just repression. we have to say that there is a massacre happening. >> asaad is still telling people that conspirators from abroad are doing this. >> i spoke to a correspondent in the capital of lebanon and asked her about the un security council and whether or not

the euro stoxx 50 ends the day at -- the dow industrials closed over 2% down. the euro is trading for $1.42. we will have more on the market reaction to the u.s. debt deal later in the show. >> the u.n. security council has failed to pass a resolution condemning the violence in syria. two unnamed members opposed the resolution. china and russia did not like the idea. lebanon remains opposed to even a statement criticizing their neighbors. in syria, violence continues. human rights groups said that more than 100 people have been lled. >> more video from syria makes it on to the internet. it purportedly is shows the sheer force was which bashar all the side's regime is facing down opposition. -- bashar al-assad's regime is facing opposition. soldiers are thought to have killed 100 people since the siege on sunday. the army has also occupied the northern cities. manyyrians appear undeterred by the harsh repression. people take to streets in a show of solidarity and resistance, like here in a suburb of damascus. as the death toll rises, so does the pressure on the

the euro stoxx 50 having a good day fishing up by 1.7%. in new york, the dow jones industrial average on a bit of a roller-coaster ride this wednesday to lay up, down, and then up again. it finished up 1.3%. on currency markets, the euro trading at one u.s. dollar, 44 cents. the french government has announced new measures aimed at reining in deficits while allowing economic growth. this is expected to raise 12 billion euros in revenues by increasing taxes and reducing tax breaks. the measures are aimed at helping the country avoid a downgrade in the credit rating. the government has to reduce their budget deficit from their current level of 7% of gdp to below 3% by the year 2014 as required by eurozone rules. that is your business update. >> a major quake in south america, a powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the richter scale had stricken eastern peru. the epicenter was located north of the city of -- in the amazon rain forest. the tremors were felt across the country. there have been no reports of any casualties. the former commander