Techs lead averages lower, Microsoft declines weighs

A steep decline in Microsoft hampered the major indexes Tuesday, though a nice showing in financial shares tempered losses. In the meantime, investors pondered the implications of additional U.S. and British attacks on targets in Afghanistan. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU: news, chart, profile) fell 15.50 points, or 0.2 percent, to 9,052.44. Topping the Dow's list of losers were shares of Microsoft, Intel, United Technologies, General Motors, Eastman Kodak and Boeing. Heading higher were shares of Alcoa, American Express, J.P. Morgan Chase, SBC Communications and Wal-Mart. The Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ: news, chart, profile) shaved 35.76 points, or 2.2 percent, to 1,570.19 while the Nasdaq 100 Index ($NDX: news, chart, profile) declined 35.07 points, or 2.7 percent, to 1,244.56. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index ($SPX: news, chart, profile) edged down 0.5 percent while the Russell 2000 Index ($RUT: news, chart, profile) of small-capitalization stocks lost 0.8 percent.

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