Most stocks in New York fell again yesterday, but Internet and blue-chip technology shares forged ahead despite pressures to take profits after a month of big gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average gave back a 26-point gain and fell 33.98 points - or by 0.4 per cent - to 8,863.98, its second fall day in a row after a string of eight sessions without a loss.

Broader stock indexes also extended Monday's modest downturn - with the exception, once again, of the technology-laden Nasdaq composite.

The Standard and Poor's 500 fell 1.96 to 1,128.24, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 4.57 to 1,865.62.

The NYSE composite index fell 1.72 to 557.42, and the American Stock Exchange composite index fell 1.02 to 665.09.