Viant Loses 5.9% on Layoffs

Viant

(VIAN)

was down 5.9% in midmorning after hitting a 52-week low of $3.69. The Internet consulting firm said it would cut 125 employees and close its Dallas office to save $18 million in 2001. The cuts will result in a fourth-quarter restructuring charge of $5 to $7 million.

The move comes a day after rival

Scient

(SCNT)

cut 460 jobs. Scient was down 43.1% after hitting a year low of $2.28.

Diamond Technology Partners

(DTPI)

, down Wednesday after

Lehman Brothers

lowered estimates, hit a 52-week low today of $21.47 and was down 13.9%.