Wall Street ended lower yesterday after Monday's surge as investors took profits.

The Dow Jones average fell 76.62, or 0.82 percent, to 9,310.99,after a record 936.42-point-gain as investors shifted focus from US$250 billion-injection to major banks into the dismal outlook for corporate earnings and the economy.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 5.34, or 0.53 percent, to 998.01, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 65.24, or 3.54 percent, to 1,779.01.

Financial shares rose after the US Treasury's latest step to stabilize the financial system in hopes of averting further damage to the economy.

Energy and materials companies also fell as the price of oil slid on growing worries that a recession would curb the demand for oil and other commodities.

PepsiCo's shares tumbled 11.9 percent on weaker-than-expected earnings while Coca-Cola shares fell 7.5 percent.