5 Tech Stocks To Avoid In 2012

By Chris Seabury During the last year unpredictability has been increasing for the major market averages. The main tool for gauging sentiment (i.e. the VIX) went from a high of 48.00 to the current levels (19.87). When this decline was happening the underlying amounts of fear were subsiding. This has some investors wondering if select technology stocks are a good buy, based on lower volatility. To determine this requires examining Baidu.com (BIDU), Sina Corporation (SINA), Netflix (NFLX), Salesforce.com (CRM) and Open Table (OPEN). All analysis and opinions should be used as a starting point for future research. Baidu.com Baidu.com trades in a neutral to bearish pattern, with the stock selling below the 200 day moving average ($134.52) on lighter volume. Moreover, the recent upward movements in October are an indication of a bear rally, following a failed attempt to rise beyond $145.00 in November. Since that time the stock has struggled to hold support. In early December Baidu.com tried to break this pattern but was unable to do so. It is at this point when shares encountered resistance at $132.50. Additionally, the company trades at a beta factor of 1.47. In the past year the firm has reporting unstable earnings…