laced nasdaq composite index was down 1.76 points, or 0.08 percent, at 2,258.87. helping the blue-chip dow, was united technologies corp., whose shares rose about 1 percent to $58.12 after cibc raised its rating on the stock to 'sector outperformer' from 'sector performer,' citing stronger confidence in 2006 growth. shares of ebay inc. were also up about 1 percent at $46.49, a day after a goldman sachs analyst said in a research note that the stock had the potential to rise 20 percent. trading in the options market may cause some volatility in stocks on friday, traders said. --more
