Midday Leaders & Laggards: Nasdaq 100

The Nasdaq 100, which includes 100 of the largest nonfinancial securities listed on the Nasdaq stock market, slipped 13.67 points to 1,339.32.

UAL lost $2.02, or 8.4 percent, to $22.11 as oil prices rallied. Light, sweet crude for May delivery rose $4.04 to $105.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Monster Worldwide Inc., which operates online recruiting site Monster.com, fell $1.64, or 6.2 percent, to $24.88.

And Virgin Media Inc. shed 73 cents, or 4.9 percent, to $14.27.

The biggest gainer was computer and iPhone maker Apple Inc., which rose $4.05, or 2.9 percent, to $145.03. Earlier Wednesday, competitor Motorola Inc., the No.2 cell phone maker behind Samsung Electronics, said it would split into two companies.

Biotechnology company Amgen Inc. rose 99 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $41.82.

And Chinese advertising network provider Baidu.com Inc. gained $5.69, or 2.4 percent, to $241.39.