Stocks dropped hard Tuesday, but top-rated issues mostly held up better than the major indexes. The Nasdaq chopped off 1.1% for its biggest hit since May 5’s 1.5% drop. The S&P 500 severed 1%, and the Dow Jones industrial average also lost 1%. Volume in the stock market today rose on both major exchanges vs. Friday’s pre-holiday pace, according to preliminary figures. Blue chips retreated with Apple (AAPL) and Visa (V) leading the way down.