Stocks fell yesterday as traders took profits from technology shares, sending the Nasdaq composite index back below 4,000 points.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 121.62 to close at 10,376.12, while the Nasdaq composite index was down 127.15 at 3,936.86.

The Nasdaq had breached the 4,000-point barrier two days ago for the first time in more than two months. But selling in technology shares yesterday spread to other sectors, bringing the overall market lower.

The Standard and Poor's 500 index was off 26.95 at 1,452.18, and the Russell 2000 index was down 12.59 at 515.02.