By Rex Crum Technology stocks put in an erratic trading session Friday as the sector see-sawed in a hunt for direction following the latest U.S. unemployment rate climbing above 10% for the first time in 26 years. Many leading tech stocks in the red included Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), IBM Corp. (IBM), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Intel Corp. (INTC), Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Dell Inc. (DELL). The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) fell 5 points to 2,100, while the Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) also retreated. The sector's performance showed how fickle the market can be as nearly every major tech stock was in the red shortly after the market opened, but then advanced before turning south again. Before trading began, the Labor Department released figures showing the U.S. unemployment rate in October climbed to 10.2%, its highest level since 1983. Among tech stocks, Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) shares climbed 80 cents, or 6.6%, to $13.08 after the graphics chip maker reported a rise in its third-quarter earnings to $107.6 million, or 19 cents a share, on revenue of $903.2 million. EBay Inc. (EBAY) shares edged up by a penny to $23.27 after the online retailer said it settled litigation with the founders of its Skype Internet phone-calling business. The settlement is expected to facilitate eBay's sale of Skype to an investor group.
