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.
