Bonds Rebound but Net Stocks Still Can't Find Relief

Interest rates' upward march has squeezed Internet stocks in recent sessions, but a reversal in the bond market Tuesday failed to provide relief for Net stocks.

TheStreet.com Internet Sector

index was down 8.47, or 1.5%, at 543.33 in early trading. Despite the drop, the DOT has now given back roughly 38% of the 150-point gain it made between Aug. 5 and last Thursday.

The sector continued to take its cue from the bellwether stocks, which remained mired in a slump.

Amazon.com

(AMZN) - Get Report

, which dropped 9 1/4 points on Monday, was down an added 5 1/4, or 4.5%, at 114.

Yahoo!

(YHOO)

was off 3, or 2%, at 140 13/16.

Even news of a deal among heavyweights

eBay

(EBAY) - Get Report

and

America Online

(AOL)

was not enough to help the sector. The companies launched a co-branded site designed to provide AOL members access to eBay's site in an AOL format. The venture marks the latest in a series of joint efforts between the two companies. eBay traded as high as 122 on the open, but was recently down 2, or 2%, at 117 7/16. AOL was off 2 7/16, or 2.6%, at 90 13/16.

Supply has been a concern in the Net sector and there was news late Monday that

Portal Software

(PRSF)

filed with the

Securities and Exchange Commission

to sell up to 5 million shares. Portal, which develops and sells real-time Internet business infrastructure software, will offer 2 million shares and stockholders will offer 3 million. The stock went public in May.

TSC's

Beth Kwon

examined the initial public offering market in a

piece Tuesday.

On the upside,

Fatbrain.com

(FATB)

was up 3 9/16, or 25%, at 18 9/16. The online retailer of professional books unveiled an

eMatter

program, a digital publishing model that allows publishers and authors to publish and sell works online.