The Silicon Valley housing market got walloped in March, as median prices fell sharply and sales hit record lows for the month.

LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks tumbled while the dollar plumbed record lows on Monday as fresh concerns about the health of the banking sector and a U.S. recession drove investors to safe-haven gold and government bonds.

Gold prices rose to a 27-year high after the dollar hit record lows, boosting the appeal of the metal as an alternative investment.