Stocks Come Off the Mat

Updated from 4:19 p.m. EST

Stocks in New York overcame an ugly start to finish only modestly lower Thursday as an upbeat factory report helped entice buyers to the market.

The major indices dropped sharply at the open after new selloffs overseas and found enough strength to ever-so-briefly edge in to positive territory late in the day. After a short stay in the green however, shares retreated back below the flat line.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished with a loss of 34.29 points, or 0.28%, at 12,234.34. At their worst, the industrials sank more than 200 points. ...