Stocks fell again Wednesday after the European Union's energy chief warned Japan’s nuclear crisis could get worse and the U.S. Commerce department said new home construction had fallen last month to the second-lowest level on record, The AP reported. By the close of trading, the Dow was down 242 points, or 2.04%, to 11,613.30. The broader S&P 500 index gave up all its gains for 2011, ending the day down 24.99 points, or 1.95%, to 1,256.88. Bloomberg News reported the Yen reached a 16-year high against the dollar on bets investors would buy the currency to help the country rebuild.
