1.   Analysts attributed the decline to rising concerns about first-quarter profits, which sent other major market indexes down sharply as well.

2.   Analysts attributed the decline to the new share sale, which will tend to dilute the value of the existing shares.

3.   Analysts attributed that decline to hints from the bank in recent weeks that led investors to boost the shares in anticipation of the announcements.

4.   Analysts attributed the decline to concern revenue will decline because of falling international phone rates and delays in gaining regulatory approval to charge higher local rates.

5.   Analysts attributed the decline to import disruptions caused by hurricanes.

6.   Analysts attribute the decline in support of giving up the Golan Heights to a perception that Syria is more interested in acquiring lost territory than in making peace.

7.   Analysts attributed the decline to an announcement Tuesday that Dell plans to pay a cash premium for converting preferred stock to common shares.

8.   Analysts attributed the decline to traders who were disappointed that UPS did not get a bigger boost from holiday sales shipments by Internet retailers.

9.   Analysts attributed the declines to increasing bond yields, which are a barometer of interest-rate expectations.

10.   Analysts largely attributed the decline to auto workers returning from summer furloughs.