Tech Stocks in Motion

Shares of SkillSoft(SKIL) were among technology's winners Thursday, rising 18% after the maker of Internet-based employee training courses posted second-quarter results that topped Wall Street forecasts.

The company reported earnings of $22.9 million, or 22 cents a share, on sales of $53.6 million. Excluding a one-time gain of $19.5 million, or 19 cents a share, the company would have earned 3 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were expecting earnings of 2 cents a share on sales of $49.9 million.

Looking ahead, SkillSoft forecast earnings of $2 million to $4 million, or 2 cents to 4 cents a share, on sales of $51 million to $53 million. Analysts had been expecting earnings of 3 cents a share on sales of $50.8 million. Shares were trading up 69 cents to $4.54.

Websense(WBSN) fell modestly after the company announced the resignation of its president and backed its third-quarter earnings and sales guidance. The software company said that Curtis Staker resigned his position so that he could become chief executive of privately held GFI Software. CEO John Carrington will assume Staker's former position.

San Diego-based Websense also said that it still expects to post third-quarter earnings of 38 cents a share on sales of $37.5 million to $38 million. Analysts are expecting earnings of 38 cents a share on sales of $38.1 million. Shares were trading down 24 cents to $49.65.

Shares of Ciena(CIEN) traded actively after the company posted an in-line third-quarter loss and said fourth-quarter sales would be better than expected. The network-equipment maker posted a loss of $51 million, or 9 cents a share, on sales of $110.5 million. On a pro forma basis, the company reported a loss of $21.6 million, or 4 cents a share. Analysts were expecting a loss of 4 cents a share on sales of $109.9 million. A year ago the company posted a pro forma loss of $41.9 million, or 7 cents a share, on sales of $75.6 million.