China's stock index plunged 7 percent Thursday, forcing the market to close for the day just 30 minutes after opening and marking the country's shortest trading day ever. The closure, triggered as an emergency measure when stocks drop beyond a certain speed, is China's second this week as stocks continue to fall in the world's second-largest economy for the sixth consecutive day.
China's tumble has prompted stocks to plunge in both the U.S. and Europe and the price of oil to drop to levels that Reuters reports haven't been "seen since the early 2000s." The Associated Press reports financial analysts predict China's volatility will continue for a few months, though not to this degree.
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