No Golden Egg for Stocks

Notably, the price of gold rose 1.4% to $342.70 per ounce Wednesday and oil rallied 1.1% to $30.44 per barrel amid rising concern about prospects for war with Iraq, after President Bush expressed "concern about omissions in the [weapons] declaration."

Meanwhile, the price of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 23/32 to 99 23/32, its yield falling to 4.03%. Even the U.S. Dollar Index managed a meek rise, suggesting Wednesday was a day for "safe havens" of varying stripes and further proof stocks don't qualify in that category.