US stocks ended slightly lower yesterday as a profit warning from the world's number two personal computer maker, Dell Computer, Qualcomm on Tuesday that its second-quarter product shipments could fall and added to the nervousness of investors already concerned about the possibility of a sharp hike in interest rates this year.

Some of the downturn in the technology sector was being countered by Conexant Systems, which climbed $13.25 to $87.56 (€88.40) after the maker of chips used for high-speed communications said it would join the S&P 500.