The index peaked at 1,998.45 in the final hour before profit taking set in.

The blue-chip index peaked early yesterday around 2,302 before profit taking sent it in reverse.

The index peaked almost 30 months ago, and is now down 15.9 percent from that peak.

Starting at 100, the index peaked in mid-2000 at 495 and then plummeted 45 percent to 272 by the end of 2001.

The index, which was begun last November, peaked in February at 292.

The overall index stood at 68 in 1970 and peaked at 72 in 1976.

That index peaked last May, then plunged 33 percent by late July.

Overall, profits of the companies in the index are down 90 percent since the index peaked.

When the index peaked above 9,000 in July, the same 100-point move represented little more than 1 percent.

After posting four straight increases, the index peaked at 108.1 in July and has gone nowhere since.