Dow Dives, Fizzles and Plummets

The Dow Jones Industrials and most other indices were pummeled today in reaction to poor performance by the Consumer Confidence Report.  Stocks got off to a bad start based on continuing jitters about the Euro and European debt.  Then word of slow growth in China imparted more pressure as stocks struggled to make headway.  By the time the Consumer Confidence numbers came out at 10AM and reflected an unexpected drop of nearly 15%, the day's trading hopes were dashed and the Dow closed down 268 points.