TECH STOCKS: Apple Among Few Gainers In Weak Tech Action

By Rex Crum, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tech stocks put in a mixed performance Friday, with much of the sector slipping into the red despite mild gains from the likes of Apple Inc. and Google Inc.

Apple (AAPL) shares rose 1% to $99.06 with the company expected to unveil the next version of the iPhone, and possibly other products, on Tuesday. Some analysts see opportunities in buying Apple's stock ahead of the event, which will take place near its Cupertino, Calif. headquarters.

Among other tech bellwethers, gains came from Google (GOOGL), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO).

Network technology company Infoblox Inc. (BLOX) climbed almost 7% to $14.48 a share. Late Thursday, Infoblox reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and sales that beat Wall Street analysts' forecasts.

The Nasdaq Composite Index (RIXF), which includes many leading tech stocks, fell almost 20 points to 4,543, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) remained near its break-even level.

Part of the day's negative tone came from what was seen as a weak report on the U.S. job market, which showed the economy adding just 142,000 jobs in August.

(Read more about the latest jobs data in Market Snapshot http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-futures-dip-ahead-of-jobs-report-2014-09-05.).

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