The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 22.97, or 0.2 percent, at 10,403.94, according to preliminary calculations, falling back from an earlier gain of 75 and cutting short a two-session winning streak.

Broader stock indicators fared better. The technology-focused Nasdaq composite index rose 18.61, or 1.0 percent, to 1,845.36. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 2.81, or 0.3 percent, at 1,147.39.

For the week, the Dow slipped 0.2 percent, the Nasdaq lost 0.3 percent, while the S&P fell 0.1 percent.

The performance was an appropriate finish to a difficult three-month period for the markets. Despite a rally in early March, which helped the Dow gain 3.8 percent for the first quarter, the Nasdaq lost 5.4 percent and the S&P was barely changed.

"Money managers are trying to balance out and adjust positions for the end of the quarter," said Todd Clark, head of listed equity trading at Wells Fargo Securities. "But a lot of people are just waiting. They have bought what they want to buy and they're sitting back and waiting for things to happen and to see if their stocks go up."

The tech sector, which had been out of favor in recent sessions, got a lift from stocks including Microsoft, which climbed 87 cents to $60.31.

Blue chips were more mixed. Boeing gained 92 cents to $48.25 on word of a significant order from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. But 3M dropped $1.95 to $115.01 after Credit Suisse First Boston rated the stock a "hold," citing pricing pressures.

Although stocks still ended March higher ­ rising 3 percent in the Dow, 6.6 percent in the Nasdaq and 3.7 percent in the S&P 500 ­ the market lost momentum as the month advanced. After starting the month on an optimistic note, Wall Street's rally faltered on fears that the market has gotten ahead of itself.

Analysts say many on Wall Street are holding back until first-quarter earnings season, which begins next week, to see whether businesses are experiencing a rebound.

"Looking ahead, we're going to be watching earnings reports. But the focus won't be the results and what the companies did in January, February and March, but what they're going to do in April, May and June," said Bryan Piskorowski, market commentator at Prudential Securities.

Before the market opened, the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.7 percent during the last three months of 2001 ­ its second revision from a figure initially reported as 0.2 percent.

Although the GDP data suggested that the recession might have been less harsh than feared, the news failed to inspire much buying because investors are more interested in the future, than in the last quarter of 2001.