03:47 PM EDT, 03/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Tech stocks were mixed in late Friday afternoon trading, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) fractionally higher and the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) shedding 0.7%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor index was slightly higher.

In corporate news, Amazon.com ( AMZN ) appealed a 32 million euro ($34.6 million) fine imposed by France's data watchdog in January for monitoring employee activity and performance, Bloomberg reported Friday. Amazon ( AMZN ) shares were advancing 0.4%.

Microsoft's ( MSFT ) announcement this week that it will hire key talent from artificial intelligence research firm Inflection to spearhead a new Microsoft AI business will further cement its leadership and ability to strategically navigate the evolving market, Macquarie said in a note emailed Friday. The brokerage reiterated an outperform rating and $455 price target on the company. Microsoft ( MSFT ) shares were fractionally lower.

Apple ( AAPL ) held early talks with Baidu ( BIDU ) about incorporating the Chinese tech company's generative artificial intelligence into its gadgets in China, The Wall Street Journal reported. Apple ( AAPL ) shares added 0.8%, and Baidu ( BIDU ) gained 0.7%.

Clear Secure ( YOU ) jumped past 8% after the company announced a $100 million increase in its share-repurchase program and a special cash dividend.