The tech sector dragged most North American markets down today after Yahoo Inc. and software-maker Siebel Systems Inc. announced disappointing outlooks, inspiring a tech sell-off.

The S&P TSX fell 61.56, or 0.73%, to 8420.38. With the exception of golds and utilities, the TSX sub-indices took a nosedive. The Information technology sub-sector was the biggest loser, dropping 2.37. Financials fell 0.61%.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones industrial average lost 69.91 points, or 0.68%, dropping to 10170.38. The S&P 500 Index fell 9.27 points, or 0.83%, at 1109.06. The technology-centered Nasdaq Composite Index slid 30.76 points, or 1.56%, at 1935.32, based on the latest available figures.

The contrarian market of the day was the TSX Venture Exchange, which added 6.96, or .44%, to 1574.79. The Canadian dollar rose to US75.88¢ from US75.63¢ in the previous session