NEW YORK: Blue chips slipped and technology shares ended with slim gains on Friday as the markets recent strength and new security alerts put investors on guard, dampening enthusiasm for an upbeat manufacturing report.
The market kicked off the first trading day of 2004 on a positive note after the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported that its monthly manufacturing index for December jumped to a 20-year high of 66.2, up from Novembers 62.8 and easily beating economists forecasts of 61.0. An index reading over 50 shows expansion in the sector.