BLUE chip stocks fell, hurt by losses in Dow component Procter & Gamble (P&G), but overall activity remained lacklustre as the market awaited today's wholesale price report.

On the New York Stock Exchange, declining issues edged out advances 1140 to 1117 on light volume of 334.5 million shares.

The Nasdaq composite index, after surging 21 points over the past two sessions, lost 3.60 to 1137.51.

"Technology indices look healthy and are retracing some gains," said Mr Peter Green, a technical analyst at Gruntal & Co.

Among individual shares, P&G lost 2 7/8 to 87 7/8. The consumer products giant's earnings topped Wall Street expectations, but quarterly sales rose a modest 1 per cent as dollar sales were affected by pricing pressures in North America and Europe.

The Standard & Poor's index of 500 stocks fell 1.57 to 662.59. The American Stock Exchange index edged up 1.53 to 551.77.