Stocks Volatile Before Cons. Conf. Data

Wall Street fluctuated in early trading Tuesday following big back-to-back rallies and as investors awaited readings on consumer sentiment.

The market seemed to be searching for direction in the early going. Some profit-taking was to be expected after a two-day rally sent the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 450 points. Investors are looking for insights into whether the easing of some of Wall Street's fears in recent sessions is well-founded or overly optimistic.

Stocks have charged higher in the days following the Federal Reserve's decision to aid investment banks and orchestrate a buyout deal for a near-collapsed Bear Stearns Cos. The Fed's actions …