THE Wall Street technology sector advanced for the fourth straight session, but blue chip shares suffered some profit taking as investors braced for the last of this week's big economic reports.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 32.51 points to close at 6,976.48, having recovered from a 95 point afternoon slide.

Broader measures were mixed, with money moving from the blue chip sector to technology issues and other areas.

With today's key employment report looming, analysts said, investors moved to secure some gains from a three day rally that added 270 points to the Dow.

Advancing issues out numbered decliners by an 11 to eight margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,455 up, 1,053 down and 823 unchanged.

NYSE volume totalled 459.34 million shares, against 556.07 million in the previous session.