Around the World's Markets: New York

WALL STREET stocks were mixed at midday as the technology-laced Nasdaq composite index explored record ground once again.

The blue-chip Dow Jones was off 66 points, or 0.58 per cent, at 11,158, sliding on profit-taking after recent big gains. The high-flying Nasdaq, which closed at a record Monday, was up 9 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 3,555. The index has risen 32 per cent since mid-October and is now up nearly 62 per cent for the year.