Stocks of nearly all southeastern Wisconsin companies sank during Wednesday's trading on Wall Street.

The stocks of such companies as Emerson Electric Co. (InSinkErator), Kohls Department Stores, M&I Bank and Modine Manufacturing Co. all posted declines.

At the close of New York trading Wednesday, Lee Enterprises stock had fallen by 26.3 percent for the day, Modine was down 17.7 percent, M&I had sunk by 14.6 percent and Kohls, Snap-On and Emerson were all down by about 4 to 5 percent.

Wisconsin Energy Corp. was an exception, losing less than 1 percent of its value.

But the real exception was Johnson Outdoors which performed well, gaining 34 cents, or 5.11 percent.

A report of weak retail sales was blamed for Wednesday's general stock losses.