Abreast of the market: Industrials edge up 4.32 points amid caution on interest rates
NEW YORK -- Stocks managed a mixed finish after a session of watching and worrying about interest rates.</br></br>The Dow Jones Industrial Average followed up on Tuesday's 82.06-point surge with a modest gain of 4.32, or 0.12%, to 3679.73. Broad-based indexes were mixed; the Nasdaq Stock Market eased.</br></br>The industrial average had gained as much as 20 points intraday, aided by strength in many economically sensitive stocks. But jittery investors locked in profits before the close, pushing prices lower, said Michael Lyons, a trader at Dean Witter Reynolds.</br></br>Investors remain unconvinced that the bond market rout, which has sent interest rates soaring and stock prices tumbling, is over, said David Butler, head of equity trading at Kemper Financial Services.</br></br>Stocks followed bonds back and forth several times yesterday. The 30-year Treasury finished with a slim gain of 1/32 point, to yield 7.24%. It was down nearly a full point at its session low around midday.