Activision (ATVI) stock took a nosedive today on news that several of its executives had sold a total of 7.1 million shares in the company Wednesday. Its shares closed $3.49 lower, losing 14.60 percent to end the day at $20.41. Atari (ATAR) also lost 7.35 percent of its share value, closing down 20 cents at $2.52, after reporting financial shortfalls yesterday.

　　A number of other game stocks were down for the day, including Electronic Arts (ERTS), whose shares finished 94 cents lower at $62.61. Shares in Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) shed 88 cents apiece to close at $36.26, while THQ Inc. (THQI) lost 61 cents a share and closed at $27.15. GameStop Corp. (GME) and Midway Games (MWY) shares also closed lower.

　　But the news wasn't all bad today: Shares in Vivendi Universal (V) rose 49 cents to $31.90 at the closing bell. Electronics Boutique (ELBO) was up 25 cents to $36.87. Jamdat Mobile (JMDT) climbed 11 cents, finishing the day at $19.97, and Konami (KNM) rose a penny to $22.09.

　　By contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had a very good day indeed, closing 85.5 points higher at 10,749.61--a record high for the DJIA this year. The Nasdaq Composite finished even, rising a mere .55 points to 2,053.1 as turmoil continued in the tech sector. Yesterday, Cisco's earnings report left investors lukewarm. Today, Dell delivered an 11 percent drop in quarterly earnings.

　　In the foreign markets...

　　Several mobile-phone companies, including Sweden's Ericsson, France Telecom, and Deutsche Telekom released negative earnings reports Thursday. Orange, which provides cellular service to Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, reported an increase in sales of 9.6 percent. The news comes at a time when the tech and game industries are focusing more on the mobile arena.