Closing Bell: stocks mixed on overseas news, minimal domestic headlines (AAPL, BIDU, GOOG, ETFC, MSFT, RIMM)

Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) launched its highly awaited 3G S iPhones today. AT&T has indicated that there were hundreds of thousands of devices pre-ordered and that demand is running ahead of expectations. Shares were up 1.15% at $137.45 late in the trading day.

Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) was hit by Chinese government demands to suspend search services for foreign websites via the Chinese version of its site. That is just a day after being warned about the ability to search pornography. Shares are higher and were up 0.8% at $417.25 late in the day.

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) rose as it may get a leg-up against Google in China now on that regulatory news. The negative research call where it was started as "Underweight" with a $244 price target at HSBC in new coverage did not dash hopes. Shares were up 1% at $296.85 late in the trading day.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) was a winner on a research note. Goldman Sachs added it to the Conviction Buy List. Shares were up 2.5% at $24.09 late in the trading day.

Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) is petering out despite its beat on earnings. The problem is that guidance was merely in-line and the internal growth numbers are not coming on stronger. In short, it is feeling pressure from Nokia, Palm and Apple. Shares were down 4.5% at $73.04 last in the trading day.

E*TRADE Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ETFC) is the closest thing you can come to a tech stock in the financial services field. It was hit hard after selling its secondary at too deep of an offering price. Shares were down 14% at $1.23 late in the trading day.