THE REAL MOST ACTIVE NYSE Stocks Forfeit Early-Morning Gains.(MAKING MONEY)

Byline: DAVID SAITO-CHUNG

The Dow industrial average let a 1.1% intraday gain shrink into a 0.2% loss Thursday. The S&P 500, up 1% intraday, fell 0.3%. NYSE volume cooled.

Natural gas-related firms fell hard. Kinder Morgan sank 5.20 to 41 on nine times average volume. Prudential reportedly downgraded the Houston-based natural gas provider to hold from buy due in part to its complex financial ties with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners.

Oil and gas pipeline firm Valero dropped 2 to 37 on three times usual volume. The stock slumped below its 50-day moving average last week. Kinder Morgan Management, which operates more than 30,000 miles of natural gas and related product pipelines, lost 2.14 at 29.56.

Steel producer Nucor slipped 3.85 to 56.50, surrendering nearly three weeks' worth of gains on four times its 50-day average trade. Analysts said a resurrection of bankrupt LTV Corp. would worsen supply.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories gave back much of its gains this week, losing 2.06 to 21.69 on double average volume. The stock has been caught in a range of 18 to around 25 for the past seven months and is 16% off its high.

Some retailers struggled. Target slid 2 to 41.90, closing a hair above its 50-day moving average on nearly ...