By Benjamin Pimentel, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Gains from Google Inc. led an
upbeat day for the tech sector Tuesday, as the Internet giant's
stock closed at more than $800 a share for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) slipped by a faction.
Reuters reported that the company's computers were hit by a hacking
attempt, but that no personal data was stolen.
Google (GOOG) ended the day will a gain of $13.96 a share to
close at $806.85. The stock has gained 14% this year and has jumped
more than 30% over the past 12 months. The company's valuation,
however, remains below that of many of its Internet peers.
Google's gains come as the company is facing heightened scrutiny
from privacy regulators in Europe, according to a media report
Tuesday. Regulators from France and other European Union countries
are considering a coordinate "repression action" against the
company after Google failed to answer concerns raised by EU
regulators late last year, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing
a privacy watchdog in France.
Other tech shares posted solid gains, as the Nasdaq Composite
Index (RIXF) rose more than 21 points to close at 3,213. The Morgan
Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) rose by 0.5 while the Philadelphia
Semiconductor Index (SOX) added 1.2%.
Google's rally was also seen with other Web stocks. Netflix
(NFLX) rose by 3.7%, Facebook (FB) picked up more than 2% and Yahoo
(YHOO) rose 1.3%.
Dell Inc. (DELL) shares shed a penny each ahead of the company's
fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report due after the closing
bell.
Sony's (SNE) U.S.-listed shares rose more than 2%, to close at
$14.65. The company is expected to unveil what is believed to be
the PlayStation 4 console at an event in New York City on Wednesday
evening.
Dow component Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) saw its shares rose 0.6%
to close at $16.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose
almost 54 points to 14,035.
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