Around the World's Markets: New York

BLUE-CHIP STOCKS ended sharply lower yesterday, giving back gains from the past week, while the Internet sector came roaring back to life after the media network company Lycos Inc posted its first profit ever.

Based on early and unofficial data, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 125.70 points, or 1.13 percent, at 10,991.38. "The only problem we have today is the Dow was up 600 points from its intra-day low last Tuesday. We're taking a very normal siesta," said a St Louis technical analyst.