Technology gains create momentum

Most stocks fell on Wall Street today, but technology stocks rose sharply and the Dow industrials edged higher after three sessions of profit-taking.

The Dow Jones industrial average finished 5.93 points higher at 8,371.97 after trading between an early 37-point decline and a gain of 67.

Broader US stock indexes also closed higher, but declining issues outnumbered those advancing overall.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq market posted the biggest gains, led by Dell Computer and Intel. The Nasdaq composite index rose 19.72 to 1,737.35 and the Standard and Poor's 500 rose 2.79 to 1,068.13.

NYSE volume totalled 675.17 million shares, down from 757.16 million.