Stocks gain 36

NEW YORK Stocks faltered toward the close today, wiping out mostof a broad rally.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose just 36.04 points to closeat 8,602.65 after retreating from a 122-point gain and brieflydipping into negative terrain.

Broader indexes also surrendered most of the gains from anopening rally led by technology and financial sectors, the twoindustries deemed most vulnerable to the global economic turmoil thathas rattled the market for more than a month.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers on the New York StockExchange, with 1,653 down, 1,356 up and 514 unchanged. NYSE volumecame to 668.9 million shares.

The dollar rose today against most other major currencies.

In London, the dollar was quoted in late trading at 144.61Japanese yen, up from 143.92 late Monday, and 1.7976 German marks, upfrom 1.7944

Other dollar rates in London: 1.5039 Swiss francs, up from1.4992; 6.0248 French francs, up from 6.0141; 2.0272 Dutch guilders,up from 2.0234; 1,772.90 Italian lire, up from 1,769.70; and 1.5482Canadian dollars, down from 1.5494. The British pound was quoted at$1.6404, up from $1.6402.

Gold closed in London at $282.40 per troy ounce, down from$284.60 Monday.

Silver closed in London at $5.02 per troy ounce, down from$5.16.