NEW York share prices tumbled in a frantic free fall yesterday as investors dumped technology firms in anticipation of disappointing quarterly results.

The Dow Jones index of industrial shares recorded its fourth worst fall ever on continued worries about business earnings. Technology companies led the way lower following disappointing profit news last week especially from Hewlett Packard and Motorola.

With second quarter profit reports beginning to spill investors are nervously awaiting further signs of weakness. Profits are a key driver of stock prices and Wall Street watches them carefully. Several analysts warned that the market slump could continue in a correction process lasting some months.