THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Chip Sales Data Lift Nasdaq In Holiday Trade.(B)

Byline: CRAIG SHAW

The Nasdaq rose Friday in a shortened session as investors welcomed data showing a strong rise in semiconductor sales last month. The composite index gained 0.4% on lighter trade. It climbed 3.5% for the week, 1.5% for the month.

Evolving Systems spiked up 1.70, or 11%, to 17.10 on twice normal trade. The telecom software maker has scaled its 50-day moving average to a fourfold gain since early July, boosting its Relative Price Strength Rating to a best-possible 99. Profit growth is seen decelerating from 155% this fiscal year to 18% in 2004 and 13% the year after.

ArthoCare marked a 52-week intraday high, but pulled back to close in the lower half of its range. Shares finished up 0.66 at 24.57 on two times typical turnover. The maker of medical devices that remove soft tissue has grown profit 50% to 233% the past three quarters after four quarters of year-over-year declines. The stock's A/D Rating is a solid B+.

Cal-Maine Foods marked an all-time high of 21.10, up 2.01, or 10.5%, on heavy trade. The egg producer's up/down volume ratio has launched from 1.4 to 3.5 ...