CPI Lends a Little Support to Net Stocks

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yet another soft economic report was providing early support in the stock market, though Net stocks were only modestly higher overall.

The consumer price index printed flat, and the core CPI, which excludes food and energy, was up 0.1%, keeping inflation fears at bay. The benign report helped lift TheStreet.com Internet Sector index up 3.41, or 0.5%, at 660.61 in recent trading.

Net/Tech Indices INDEX CHANGE % VALUE TSC Internet 3.41 +0.5% 660.61 TSC E-Commerce 2.07 +1.8% 117.56 TSC E-Finance 17/32 -0.6% 89 1/2 Nasdaq 12.40 +0.4% 2830.50

Among Net stocks, both Inktomi (INKT Quote) and EarthLink Networks (ELNK Quote) were seeing profit-taking despite reporting earnings Wednesday that beat estimates. ...