Around the World's Markets: New York

BLUE-CHIP stocks fell while the Nasdaq carved out its seventh record close in eight trading sessions as Wall Street had mixed views about this week's slew of economic indicators, the last big batch for 1999. The Dow Jones ended down 32.11 points, or 0.29 per cent, at 11,192.59. "The market is taking a deep breath," said one analyst. "It's going to get stronger in the next day or two."

The Nasdaq jumped 38.11 points, or 1.05 per cent, to 3,658.35, a new high.