Stocks trade mixed as profit-taking sets in

Wall Street fluctuated Tuesday as investors reacted enthusiastically to the U.S. government's plans to spend $250 billion to buy stock in private banks but also collected profits from the previous day's massive advance. The Dow Jones industrial average was modestly lower a day after its record 936-point jump.

Profit-taking started creeping into the market after the Dow surged more than 400 points at the opening, and it was expected that some investors would take some money out of the market after such a massive gain. Moreover, it was widely anticipated that Wall Street would continue to see volatility in the weeks and perhaps months ahead because of worries about the …