Internet and technology shares took a dive in afternoon trading Tuesday,
prompted by steep losses within the biotech sector.
Biotechs tumbled after President Clinton and Britain floated a proposal that
would give researchers around the world free access to human genome
mapping. Success in the field has led a number of biotech stocks to soar in
recent months amid speculation that the process will spur a new round of
health care successess.
As for Internets, analysts attributed the fall to simple profit-taking,
saying many stocks, particularly in the business-to-business sector had
simply gotten ahead of the levels investors were willing to pay.
At the close, internet.com’s Internet Stock Index had plunged 44.85, or 4.19
percent, to 1,025.80, the Nasdaq Composite had lost 200.61 to 4,706.63 and
the Dow Jones industrial average was off 135.89 to 9,811.24. The Nasdaq’s
drop was its largest in more than two months.
Leading the decline were Ariba Inc. (ARBA), off 16-15/16 to 281-1/16, Broadcom
Corp. (BRCM)
was off 29-1/16 to 200-15/16, Checkpoint Software (CHKP)
lost 21-5/16 to 246-7/8, CMGI Inc. (CMGI)
had fallen 8-3/8 to 123-7/8, Exodus
Communications (EXDS)
had fallen 9-1/4 to 151-5/16 and VerticalNet Inc. (VERT)
was off 24 to 230.
Inktomi (INKT)
jumped 17-1/8 to 206-1/8. The company signed deals with Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW)
and Spyglass Inc. (SPYG)
to adapt its delivery optimization technology to wireless devices.
McAfee.com Corp. (MCAF)
leaped 6-1/2 to 52-1/4. The antivirus software site and parent Network
Associates Inc. (NETA)
will provide online virus scanning technology to users of Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT)
Hotmail e-mail service.
internet.com Corp. (INTM)
jumped 5-1/2 to 60. U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray reiterated its “strong buy”
on the publisher of this Web site, setting a $150 target.
MP3.com Inc. (MPPP)
jumped 6 to 29-1/16 despite the fact the company released no news.
Ask Jeeves Inc. (ASKJ)
gained 2-7/8 to 80-3/8. The search firm priced a secondary offering of 2.1
million shares at $76 each. Goldman Sachs is leading the offering.
Adaptive Broadband Corp. (ADAP)
closed off 11-3/4 to 166-3/8 after hitting 193 earlier in the session. The
high-speed wireless equipment maker announced a 2-for-1 stock split.
Three IPOs hit the Stre
et Tuesday. RADVision Ltd. (RVSN)
jumped 35-15/16 to 55-15/16. The Internet software maker Monday sold 3.8
million shares at $20 each.
Online auction site FairMarket Inc.
(FAIM)
soared 31-1/2 to 48-1/2. The online auction operator sold 5 million shares
at $17. Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown was the lead underwriter.
Finally, Digitas Inc. (DTAS)
climbed 5-1/2 to 29-1/2 on its first day of trading. The Internet consulting
firm sold 9.3 million shares at $24.
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