"The market is still in a malaise," said Charles Pradilla, chief investment strategist at SG Cowen Securities. "You inject the recent news into a market still in the process of taking profits, and you get this real choppy action."

The Dow slid 172.36, or 2 percent, to close at 8,473.41, having fallen 2.8 percent last week to snap an eight-week winning streak. Blue-chip stocks have now declined in the last six of seven sessions to a level not seen since Nov. 13.

The broader market also fell. The Nasdaq composite index declined 55.33, or 3.9 percent, to 1,367.11, also the lowest since Nov. 13. The Standard & Poor's 500 index dropped 20.23, or 2.2 percent, to 892.00.

United Airlines filed for federal bankruptcy court protection today, one of the 10 largest Chapter 11 filings in U.S. history, underscoring the troubles in the airline industry.

Dow industrial IBM, meanwhile, fell $2.73 to $79.59 after Banc of America cut the computer maker's brokerage rating to "market performer" from "buy."

Analysts say investors are still largely upbeat despite recent declines and should bid stocks higher by year's end. After eight weeks of Dow advances, it's expected that some investors would cash in some profits, they said.

"December is usually one of the market's strongest months, but it's usually the last week and a half that we see the gains," said Steven Goldman, chief market strategist at Weeden & Co. in Greenwich, Conn.

"I think after we finish this consolidation, stocks should be set up for some type of year-end rally," he said.

Investors also were hopeful that Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill's resignation will bring a new approach from the government to bolstering the economy, although reaction to President Bush's nomination of CSX Corp. Chairman John W. Snow as O'Neill's replacement was muted.

Pradilla called Snow "market friendly," but said investors weren't particularly impressed because his corporate credentials were similar to O'Neill's.

"There's nothing unique to him to move the market either way," he said.

Analysts also say the market remains vulnerable to losses on investor concerns about a war with Iraq and the strength of corporate earnings.

International inspectors began reviewing Saddam Hussein's 12,000-page arms declaration today for clues about whether Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction. The United States said "there's skepticism and there's fear" as it combed the documents.

Wal-Mart fell $1.19 to $51.85 after the discounter said December sales were looking to fall at the lower end of estimates.

Citigroup dropped $1.41 to $36.15 and J.P. Morgan Chase fell $1.17 to $23.26 on reports that congressional investigators were examining whether the two financial companies helped Enron hide debt or avoid taxes.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers 5 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was light.

The Russell 2000 index fell 10.43, or 2.6 percent, to 386.29.

Japan's Nikkei stock average finished 0.4 percent lower. France's CAC-40 fell 2.2 percent, while Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 2 percent and Germany's DAX slid 4.4 percent.