Stocks closed lower yesterday in slow holiday trading, as the technology sector remained under fire from investors concerned about weakening profit growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 28.11, or 0.3 per cent, at 10,568.43.

Broader stock indicators also closed lower. The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.45 to 3,355.56, having recovered from a loss of more than 100 points earlier in the session. The Standard and Poor's 500 dropped 6.96 to 1,402.03.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 5-to-3 ratio on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 714.2 million shares, well below Friday's pace. Trading was light due to the Columbus Day and Yom Kippur holidays.