Despite the declines, analysts say the mood on Wall Street has been lifting as a majority of companies have reported better-than-expected first-quarter profits. But for that good feeling to last, market observers say, there has to be a longer-term trend of encouraging earnings and economic news.

Wall Street sentiment is improved, said Susan L. Malley, chief investment officer for Malley Associates Capital Management in New York.

"But that doesn't make me feel it is going to be easy for the Dow to break out of this trading range, where 8,500 has been the top that it has failed to break through," Malley said.

She added: "I am hopeful that this is the beginning of the cycle when earnings come in better than expected. If it can continue through the next quarter, then I think we have a good chance of breaking through that range."

The Dow closed down 133.69, or 1.6 percent, at 8,306.35. Along with a loss of 75.62 yesterday, the blue-chip declines more than wiped out the 186.76 gained Tuesday and Wednesday.

The broader market also pulled back for a second day. The Nasdaq composite index fell 22.69, or 1.6 percent, to 1,434.54. It had closed Wednesday at its highest level since Dec. 2. The Standard & Poor's 500 index declined 12.62, or 1.4 percent, to 898.81.

The major gauges ended the week mixed. The Dow forfeited 0.4 percent, but the Nasdaq the S&P each rose 0.6 percent.

The declines came amid light trading volume, whereas the gains earlier in the week were made during heavy trading, which analysts believed was a sign of newfound resilience.

There were three stronger-than-expected economic reports issued today.

The Commerce Department reported that despite war anxieties, the U.S. economy managed to grow at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter. The growth rate of the nation's gross domestic product ­ the broadest measure of economic health ­ was better than the 1.4 percent rate analysts were anticipating, but still was considered rather soft.

In a second report, the Commerce Department said sales of new homes shot up by 7.3 percent in March, far above what analysts had expected, because of continued low mortgage rates and better weather.

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan's index on consumer sentiment for April rose to 86.00 as war fears lessened, according to a report by Dow Jones Newswires. The reading increased from 77.6 for March and was better than the 84.00 level economists had predicted.

Still, stocks retreated slightly as investors continued to take profits from the rallies on Tuesday and Wednesday.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco dropped $6.02 to $28.18 after slashing its 2003 earnings outlook, although first-quarter results beat analysts' expectations by 6 cents a share.

Sara Lee fell 84 cents to $16.96, adding to yesterday's loss of $1.94 when it missed earnings expectations by a penny a share. Additionally, Banc of America Securities today downgraded Sara Lee to "neutral" from "buy."

Declining issues outnumbered advancers 9 to 5 on the New York Stock Exchange. Volume was light at 1.33 billion shares, below yesterday's 1.63 billion shares.

The Russell 2000 index, the barometer of smaller company stocks, fell 3.77, or 1 percent, to 388.50.

In Europe, France's CAC-40 lost 1.3 percent, Britain's FTSE 100 declined 0.7 percent and Germany's DAX index fell 1.9 percent.