Stock StumbleToward End of Session

Stock futures opened slightly higher today as commodities like oil and gold were at recent lows.  Liquid gold, better known as north Sea crude was selling at $83. per barrel today and gold itself was trading at $1,375 an ounce.  Inflation remained fairly tame increasing only .4% and housing starts were down more than 10% leas than expectations.  Building permits were up above expectations.  Jobless claims were up versus last week's low but the 4 week average remained respectably low.  Stocks, which were near even all day closed down at the close.  The Dow closed down 42 points.