Dow Jones: 5993.23 (-13.79)
STOCKS turned mostly lower yesterday after signs of continued strength in home sales dampened enthusiasm.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 13.79 points to close at 5,993.23, after retreating from an early 21 point advance, dipping back below 6,000.
Broader measures also pulled back after bonds surrendered an opening advance that briefly brought long term interest rates to their lowest level in nearly seven months.
The Nasdaq market posted modest gains as investors looked for bargains after several days of profit taking in leading technology shares.
Advancing issues barely outnumbered decliners on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,201 up, 1,185 down and 88 unchanged.
NYSE volume totalled 437.78 million shares, against 441.08 million in the previous session.
The Standard and Poor's 500 stock index fell 0.61 to 700.89, the NYSE's composite index fell 9.41 to 372.72, and the American Stock Exchange's market value index fell 0.60 to 565.29.
