The Dow Jones industrial average fell below 10,000 this morning for the first time in nearly four years, plummeting more than 500 points as of 10 a.m. Iowa time, as European governments’ rush to prop up failing financial firms underscored the global reach of the credit crunch, CNNMoney reported. The Nasdaq composite and the Standard & Poor 500 indexes were down more than 5 percent.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. has downgraded Des Moines based-EMC Insurance Group Inc. to “underperform,” with a reduction in target price from $24 to $21.

The first Sustainable Business After Hours will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Mars Café, 2318 University Ave. The event is an opportunity for “green” professionals to network and learn about other businesses that are focused on sustainable business practices. The meeting will feature a short presentation from Eric Biederman from The Energy Group, followed by an informal discussion. Biederman is an energy analyst with more than five years of experience in the energy-efficiency field.

Des Moines native and 2008 U.S. Olympic athlete Lolo Jones will visit with employees at Principal Financial Group Inc. about her Olympic experience on Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. She will discuss the importance of wellness and achieving goals, as well as answer questions from employees and sign autographs.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is expected to tap Neel Kashkari to oversee the department’s $700 billion bailout program, according to people familiar with the matter, CNNMoney reported. Kashkari, 35, is expected to be named interim head of the Treasury Department’s new Office of Financial Stability as early as today. He serves as assistant treasury secretary for international affairs and is a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker.

Iowa State University Extension will be hosting the last of four online conferences discussing flood cleanu and rebuilding issues on Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The discussion will center on the question, should our neighborhood stay where it is and rebuild or move to higher ground? To listen to the conference, visit http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/rebuilding/.

Valley Junction will host its annual fall Gallery Night on Friday, Oct. 17. Eleven galleries will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. exhibiting new artwork by regional, national and international artists. The event is free and open to the public.

Oil prices fell to an eight-month low below $90 a barrel today on speculation that the spreading financial crisis will exacerbate a global economic slowdown and cut demand for crude oil, CNNMoney reported. Oil prices have tumbled nearly 40 percent since peaking in July.