The Dow closed at 5,966.77, down 13.04 points after having retreated from an early 30-point gain that lifted the blue-chip average to about 6,010.
Yesterday, the Dow pierced the 6,000-mark for the first time, but quickly pulled back.
Decliners led advancers by a 4-to-3 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,033 up, 1,393 down and 830 unchanged. NYSE volume totaled 434.66 million shares, vs. 380.76 million yesterday.
The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 2.70 to 700.64, and the NYSE's composite index lost 1.23 to 373.51.
The Nasdaq composite index fell 10.73 to 1,240.14, and the American Stock Exchange index dropped 0.21 to 582.01.
Another weak session in the bond market sent interest rates slightly higher, providing an excuse to secure more profits on the market's powerful advance, analysts said.
The market turned negative by midday, with many investors waiting to see if the impending barrage of third-quarter earnings reports will justify the market's month-long push into record territory. Some of the initial readings from the key technology sector were less than encouraging.
Investors were also said to be awaiting Friday's data on wholesale price levels in September, hoping for further confirmation of the recently upbeat inflation and interest rate outlook.