Stocks fell on Thursday as U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke slowed on his message that additional near-term stimulus could be on the way. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 54.49 points, or 0.44 percent, to end at 12,437.12. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 8.84 points, or 0.67 percent, to finish at 1,308.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 34.25 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 2,762.67. In better news for the U.S., the dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen, British pound and the euro. Oil for August delivery, though, fell by $2.80 to $95.21 a barrel. Gold futures for August delivery rose $3.80 to settle at a fresh record high of $1,589.30 an ounce. Earlier in the trading session, gold set a new mid-day record of $1,594.90.
