Legg Mason

BP PLC (NYSE ADR: BP) stock plunged 16% to hit a 14-year low in New York trading Wednesday as some investors panicked over growing liabilities and others worried about socially responsible investing.  

In London trading Thursday BP fell 6.7% to 365.50 pence, its lowest closing price since January 2003 and 44% lower than the day the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded.

"The share price is political and in no way fundamental," said Jason Kenney, an analyst at ING Wholesale Banking in Edinburgh. "The U.S. needs to realize it needs BP to survive to clean up the mess. Scapegoating has gone too far."