Technology index follows broader markets higher

Winners and losers were balanced, with 49 of the 100 stocks in the index rising, 48 declining and three remaining unchanged.

In the broader markets, the Nasdaq composite index gained 49.42 to 4,897.26, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index added 11.08 to 1,366.70. The Dow Jones industrial average recovered from yesterday's 374-point plunge, adding 60.50 to close at 9,856.53.

Intel closed down 81 cents at $114.94; Microsoft edged up $2.69 at $95.56.

Crayfish, a Japanese provider of email services, was the biggest percentage gainer on the Nasdaq. The shares, which began public trading today, jumped $101.50, or 425 percent, to $126. Volume topped 7.6 million shares.

In the CNET tech index, VoiceStream Wireless and Inktomi posted strong gains.

VoiceStream rose $18.50 to $138.38 as analysts continued to voice support for the company after it released quarterly financial results Monday.

Inktomi rose $14.56 to $172.81 after the company announced it will work with Sun Microsystems to develop a customizable search service that will allow start-ups to quickly launch e-business sites.

Online auctioneer eBay jumped $21.19, or 13 percent, to close at $184. eBay announced yesterday it will team with AutoTrader.com to create an auction site for used cars.

The Philadelphia semiconductor index fell 21.57 to 1,242 as chipmaker KLA-Tencor lost $5 to close at $79.

According to the CNET CEO Wealth Meter, Larry Ellison's stake in Oracle increased by $5.4 billion to $55 billion as the company's stock rose $8.19 to $83.13. Oracle, Chevron and a Wal-Mart unit announced they will create an online exchange for the convenience store industry.

Broadcom CEO Henry Nicholas lost $335 million as that company's stock fell $8.50 to $234.50.