By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks were mostly
lower Monday, as shares of Twitter Inc. and Facebook slipped, while
rising shares of Applied Materials and Apple Inc. helped the
sector.
Applied (AMAT) was up 0.7% to close at $22.96 as D.A. Davidson
& Co. offered an upbeat view of the semiconductor capital
equipment sector. D.A. Davidson analyst Thomas Diffely pointed to
signs of improved demand among segments of the semiconductor
industry for chip-making equipment.
Shares of Apple (AAPL) were ahead by 2.1% to close at $95.97.
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White said data from Apple's
suppliers point to strong sales in June ahead of the much-awaited
rollout of the iPhone 6 and the iWatch, Apple's smartwatch, which
analysts believe will be unveiled in the coming months. (Related:
Apple gets back-handed praise over the iPhone...and iWatch
possibility)
But the tech sector was weighed down by declining shares of
Intel Corp. (INTC), which was off 0.4%. Twitter Inc. (TWTR) slipped
2.7%, while Amazon.com (AMZN) gave up 1.2% and Facebook (FB) shed
1.5%.
The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) was down 0.8% to close at
4,451. The Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) and the
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) were each down a fraction of
a percentage point.
More must-read stories from MarketWatch:
King Digital shares jump after upgrade
Apple June sales strong ahead of busy fall season
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires