FusionIQ Market Wrap for 12/2/09-Stocks end mixed.....

The stock market struggled but held its ground Wednesday as an upbeat assessment of the economy from the Federal Reserve offset drops in bank and energy stocks.  Most stocks finished higher after the Fed said regional economic activity has generally improved since its last snapshot in October. The central bank also said consumer spending has strengthened even as employment and commercial real estate remain weak.  The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 19 points to 10,452.68 a day after jumping 126 points. Reports of analysts' warnings about bank stocks hurt financial shares, while a steep drop in oil weighed on energy companies. Airlines jumped on hopes business is stabilizing.Gold managed to hold its gains in the face of a modest rebound by the greenback. The Dollar Index had traded near 52-week lows in the previous session, but managed to make its way to a 0.3% gain this session.  The dollar's advance helped undercut the stock market's gains, which had already begun to fade from fractionally improved 2009 highs as buyers took a breather. Stocks were left to surrender their gains and spend the afternoon with modest losses until some moderate support helped the broader market finish with a fractional gain.