STOCKS fell yesterday as the market braced itself for a series of economic reports next week that are likely to clarify the outlook for interest rates.

The Dow's drop trimmed its gain to 35.32 points for the week, as blue chips dipped in each of the three sessions after jumping 173 points on Tuesday in the 30 stock index's second largest point gain.

In the broader market, declining issues outnumbered gainers by 1,658 to 795 on volume of 414 million the New York Stock Exchange.

"Basically, attention is focused on next week," said Mr Jack Shaughnessy, director of research at Ad vest. Reports are expected on employment and wages, gross domestic product, the National Association of Purchasing Management index and the Employment Cost Index.