Weak bonds, rate fears hit the Dow

Dow Jones: 5877.36 (-11

Dow Jones: 5877.36 (-11.47) COMPUTER-RELATED shares lifted the Nasdaq market again yesterday, but stocks were mostly lower amid uncertainty about the US interest rate outlook in the bond market and at the Federal Reserve.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 11.47 points to close at 5,877.36, after having recovered from an early 24 point dip.

The Nasdaq market rose for the ninth straight session, shrugging off some early profit taking amid continuing enthusiasm over Intel's upbeat earnings forecast and various company presentations at a technology conference.

Analysts noted that, despite the pause in the market's sudden return to record levels, stocks were holding up well against a weak bond market, where long term interest rates shot back above 7 per cent on Tuesday.

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The Nasdaq composite index rose 4.39 to 1,207.70 and the American Stock Exchange's market value index fell 0.51 to 566.65.