By Rex Crum
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tech stocks lost much of their
early momentum as trading progressed Monday, a quiet session
highlighted by the latest chip-sales figures from the Semiconductor
Industry Association.
The trade group said that global chip sales rose nearly 3% in
September from the previous month, to $26.5 billion, while
third-quarter sales of $79.4 billion climbed 26.2% from the
year-ago period.
Among leading chip stocks, Intel Corp. (INTC) rose 42 cents, or
2%, to $20.48 as Xilinx Corp. (XLNX) added 14 cents to $26.94.
The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) gave up nearly all of its
gains to remain up by just 1 point at 2,508, while the Philadelphia
Semiconductor Index (SOX) and the Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index
(MSH) both slipped into the red.
Among leading tech stocks, Oracle Corp. (ORCL) shares fell 15
cents to $29.23. Jury selection was slated to begin Monday in a
trial over damages Oracle is seeking in a case of software theft
involving a former SAP AG (SAP) subsidiary.
Gains came from Apple Inc. (AAPL), Dell Inc. (DELL), Microsoft
Corp. (MSFT), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), while shares of
Web-security company Sourcefire Inc. (FIRE) rallied more than 9% to
$25.79.