THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Dow, S&P Fall Hard While Volume Eases.(MAKING MONEY)

Byline: JONAH KERI

NYSE stocks dived Thursday, but the selling seemed to lack conviction. The Dow dropped 2.6%, the S&P 500 3%. Despite the heavy point losses, however, volume closed well short of Wednesday's level, suggesting institutions largely sat out the session.

That lack of volume would be cold comfort to investors who jumped into some leading stocks sensing a market turnaround. Yum Brands skidded 2.69 to 28.21 on nearly twice its normal trade. Goldman Sachs downgraded the owner of the Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut chains to market outperform from a trading buy rating. Yum found support at its 200-day moving average.

American Italian Pasta drained 1.30 to 40.04 on triple its usual turnover. The maker and marketer of pasta for supermarkets and other food retailers has fallen 23% from its 52-week high.

Elsewhere, Commerce Bancorp plunged 4.09, or 9%, to 42.13. Volume swelled to more than twice its 50-day average. The bank chain pierced its 50- and 200-day averages. In the last three weeks, the stock's Accumulation/Distribution Rating has dropped to a dreadful E from a B+.

Oxford Health Plans lost 3.47 to 39.55 on nearly four times its typical trade. The managed health care ...