US stocks meandered to a mixed finish yesterday, with the technology group driving the Nasdaq market to another record and the Dow edging lower amid profit worries for Procter and Gamble and Coca-Cola.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell after drifting between a 59-point loss and a 23-point gain.

The Nasdaq composite index set its second record in three days and extended this year's gain to 30.6 per cent. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 18.79 to 9,009.19.

The Standard and Poor's 500 rose 2.11 to 1,183.49, less than 10 points from the November 27th record of 1,192.33. The Nasdaq composite rose 15.67 to 2,050.42. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a slim margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,454 up, 1,550 down and 550 unchanged.