NEW YORK -- Smaller-company stocks pushed some measures to more new highs, but blue-chip issues turned lower today amid some profit-taking on their record-setting advance over the prior two sessions. Dow off 26.18 in profit-taking
The Dow Jones industrial average managed to erase an early 32-point slide, but quickly faltered in a bid for its third straight record high, losing 26.18 points to close at 7,357.23. The Dow had gained about 125 points over the previous two sessions, nearly breaking above 7,400 for the first time.
Advancers outnumbered decliners by a 10-to-9 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,322 up, 1,188 down and 849 unchanged. NYSE volume totaled 487.18 million shares vs. 435.95 million yesterday.
The Standard & Poor's 500-stock list fell 2.50 to 847.21, and the NYSE's composite index fell 1.01 to 439.66, snapping a two session streak of record highs.
The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.97 to 1,410.18, the Russell 2000 rose 1.05 to 377.79, and the American Stock Exchange composite index rose 2.35 to 600.79.
Broad-market indicators were mixed, with the Nasdaq composite index notching its third straight record close, and the Russell 2000 list of smaller companies setting its fourth straight.
Bond market interest rates, which rose to uncomfortable levels yesterday, were fairly steady today despite news that orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods rose a 1.4 percent in April, exceeding forecasts. A March decline was found smaller than originally thought.