One of the hardest-hit companies was Internet search leader Google Inc., whose shares have endured their toughest year since the company went public in 2004. Recently investors have punished Google on worries that shriveling advertising budgets will hurt Google's ability to keep up its rapid growth.

Google's stock fell 28 percent for the July-September period, based on Monday's closing price. That makes it the second-toughest quarter for Google's stock after the January-March period of this year.

So far this calendar year, Google's stock is down 45 percent, falling from above $690 per share at the start of January to close at $381 on Monday. The decline has vaporized $97 billion in shareholder wealth, leaving Google with a market value of $120 billion at the end of trading Monday.

Many stocks, including Google's, got a lift Tuesday as bargain-hunters snapped up cheap stocks. Google was up 8 percent to $413.14 in midday trading.

The quarter was also rough for Apple Inc. The iPod and Macintosh maker's shares fell 37 percent during the period, wiping out $55 billion in shareholder wealth, on concerns that slowing consumer spending is hurting the PC business, particularly the pricier models that are Apple's specialty.

The stock hit a new 52-week low Monday at $100.59. The stock also regained some ground Tuesday, rising 6.7 percent to $112.34 in midday trading.

Intel Corp., the world's largest semiconductor company, got its sails trimmed during the third quarter on fears that dampened purchases of PCs would reduce demand for Intel's chips. Its shares fell 20 percent during the month, a fall that chopped $24 billion from Intel's market value.

Some tech stocks were bright spots, however.

Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM Corp., companies that have seen demand for their technology services go up in the ailing market because companies hope it will help them cut costs, both experienced significant gains during the third quarter.

HP's stock fared better, finishing the quarter roughly where it started at around $45 per share. HP's stock gained $1.43, 3.2 percent, to $45.98 in Tuesday's trading session.

Shares of IBM, meanwhile, have been sliding steadily during the midpoint of the quarter. After hitting a high of $130.93 per share on July 24, the stock has since fallen to around $114 per share, a sign that investors are worried the troubles in the financial services industry, one of IBM's most important customer segments, will hurt IBM's business.

IBM shares fell another 89 cents to $113.57 in midday trading Tuesday.