Dow Down the Up Staircase

Stocks once again did their best impression of a roller coaster.  The Dow opened on the down side due to continued concern about the burgeoning European debt crisis and a disappointing dip in home prices.  After being down 100 points during the morning, some good news appeared with brought the Dow all the way back to even.  The Chicago PMI, a measure of future manufacturing, and Consumer Confidence numbers came in above expectations.  The Fed chief's comments about a slow recovery caused the Dow to sputter at the close and finish down 46 points.