Are financial reporters afraid - or not allowed - to say "down"?

[Can Handle the Truth]

I have the TV tuned to CNBC a lot during the day, and I've noticed that the market is either "up" or "off", but never "down". I can't help but wonder why they always say "off", which is so similar-sounding to "up", instead of saying "down". Is there some kind of taboo?

[Sunspace]

No-one wants to be the first seed crystal to initiate a panic sell, and then get lynched* by the mob.

(Hey, if things are that unstable, random noise might do it...)

*Merril-Lynched?

[Angel of the Lord]

I listen to Marketplace on NPR, and I'm pretty sure they say "down."