TECH STOCKS: Slow Start To The New YearTECH STOCKS: Slow Start To The New Year

Wall Street started the new year with some of the same enthusiasm that marked its big comeback in 2003--but it didn't last long. Stocks surged in the morning on upbeat economic news, but investors backed off and took some profits later in the day, leaving the markets mixed on light volume after the New Year's holiday.

The information 100 got off to a good start, rising 2.40 points, or 0.8%, to 317.39. For the week, the index gained 2%.

The Dow Jones industrials fell 44.07, or 0.4%, on Friday to close at 10,409.85, up 0.8% for the week. A stronger-than-expected report on manufacturing had the Dow up more than 74 points early in the day before investors backed off. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 3.44, or 0.3%, to 1,108.48 but was up 1.1% for the week. The Nasdaq composite index rose 3.31, or 0.2%, to 2006.68 and was up 1.7% for the week. The Nasdaq 100 tracking stock fell 10 cents to $36.36 as nearly 82 million shares changed hands.

For all of 2003, the information 100 gained nearly 55%, while the Nasdaq rose 50%, the S&P 500 rose 26%, and the Dow rose 25.3%.

AT&T was the Dow's biggest percentage gainer, helped by a USA Today report on Friday that it has raised rates for some customers. On Thursday, the paper said, AT&T started charging some customers a $3.95 monthly fee, while BellSouth, the No. 3 U.S. local telephone company, levied a 99-cent monthly fee on most of its residential long-distance customers.

Shares of AT&T rose 57 cents, or 2.8%, to $20.87. BellSouth Corp. fell 3 cents to $28.27.