By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The tech sector bounced back from
a shaky start Wednesday, edging higher as shares of Amazon.com and
Microsoft posted gains.
Amazon.com (AMZN) shares traded up more than 4% as the Internet
giant geared up for its anticipated tablet announcement.
Shares of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) also moved up by 1.7%. The
company announced Wednesday that it was expanding its smart phone
partnership with Samsung.
The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF) was up a fraction at
2,550.
The sector was weighed down by declining semiconductor shares.
The chip retreat was led by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) which fell
more than 2%, while LSI Corp (LSI) lost 4% and SanDisk Corp (SNDK)
declined 1%.
In a note, J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Danely wrote that
"most investors we met with last week indicated they are waiting
for another round of estimate cuts in October and a resolution in
the European financial crisis before buying semiconductor
stocks."
However, Danely also argued that, in his view, "semiconductor
stocks have bottomed and that investors should buy before the
likely 1Q12 recovery."
That view apparently was not widely-shared by investors
Wednesday morning as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)
slid nearly 1%. The index has lost more than 10% since Jan. 1.
The tech sector got a lift from Jabil (JBL) shares of which were
up more than 9% after the electronics contract manufacturer
reported upbeat earnings and a stronger-than-expected outlook.
Shares of Accenture (ACN) added more than 2% after the IT
services and consulting company reported a jump in profit.
IT services and distribution firm, Synnex Corp. (SNX) also saw
its stock trade up more than 12% after the company posted strong
quarterly results.
Among the notable decliners was Juniper Networks (JNPR) which
was down 4%.
In a note, FBN Securities analyst Shelby Seyrafi initiated
coverage of the stock with a sector perform rating, saying Juniper
"has many new product cycles beginning, but service provider
spending is slowing while Cisco is becoming more aggressive."
Seyrafi also initiated coverage of Cisco (CSCO) with an
outperform rating. Cisco shares were up 1.5% at last check.