Stocks ended narrowly mixed yesterday in a quiet session marked by optimism about high-technology companies and lingering pessimism about the possibility of rising interest rates. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 2.44 at 10,595.30. The Federal Reserve will hold its next policy-setting meeting on interest rates on Tuesday and analysts are divided over whether the central bank will raise interest rates for the third time this year.
Technology stocks once again led the broader market. Dell Computer, considered a bellwether stock for the industry, rose. The company released its earnings report after the close of trading.
Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a seven-to-five margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,753 down, 1,271 up and 517 unchanged. NYSE volume totalled 871.24 million shares at the close against 981.29 million in the previous session. Trading was quiet as the bond market was closed in observance of Veterans Day. Most stock investors appeared content to wait for a fresh round of economic data before taking major new positions.
