Stocks Mixed, Dow Down 6.7

Stocks ended mixed today, recovering from sharp losses on reports that the Obama administration is planning a program to subsidize mortgage payments for some homeowners, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nonetheless, continued uncertainty over how the Treasury’s rescue plan will value the so-called “toxic” assets kept bank stocks in the red. The Dow closed down 6.77 points at 7,933. The Nasdaq rose 11.21 points, settling at 1,542, and the S&P 500 added 1.45 points to close at 835.
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