The Dow Jones industrials are up 360, or 4.2 percent, at the 8,924 level Tuesday.

Stocks are extending their gains Tuesday following the central bank’s decision to lower its fed funds target rate to a range of zero to 0.25 percent to align with where rates have been in the eyes of the market.

Stocks finished about 200 points lower today after swinging back and forth in a wide range.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is offering a bleak assessment of the impact of the current financial crisis.