List Turns Mixed, Shade on Upside: Good Economic News Ford, GM Gain Large-Block Trades
NEW YORK, Feb. 7ÛÓThe stock marketÛªs latest rally attempt almost ran out of friends today, but the list managed to hold on to its first over-all gain in eight trading days. Volume declined for the fourth straight day. *	*----------------------------1</br></br>The softness, which moved in during the second half of the four-hour session, was especially evident in blue chip stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average was the only major indicator to finish with a loss on the day. closing down 1.33 points at 859.92.</br></br>92.06	and the New York Stock Exchange index was ahead 0.08 point to 51.52. Volume ran ahead of Tuesday's pace while the market was rising in the morning, then fell back before the close. At the finish. 8.38 million shares had traded, down from 8.56 million in the previous session and, again, the lowest since 7.77 million on Columbus Day, Oct. 12.</br></br>Advances moved ahead of declines for the first time in eight sessions, but they had lo hold on to do it. At the marketÛªs best levels, the winners led the losers by more than 300 stocks, but at the close, there were 637 slocks up and 572 down, compared with 626 losers and 593 winners on Tuesday. New 1967-8 highs rose to 22 from 18 and new lows slipped to 25 from 28.</br></br>The market was treated to some good economic news, but analysts said the activity was still based strongly on technical factors, with attention riveted on the international scene.