The Caracas stock exchange tumbled almost 11 percent on Tuesday, as small investors were worried about impending nationalization of companies following the government notice, brokers said.

"There is prevailing nervousness in the market (…) particularly among small investors," said one of the brokers about the stock exchange, the index of which dropped 10.93 percent to 42,423.76 points early afternoon.

The government of President Hugo Chávez anticipated recently the nationalization of some key firms, such as telecommunications company Cantv and Number 1 power supplier La Electricidad de Caracas