Good Moos on Internet Cattle Auction Debut

The Internet IPO stampede took a new twist Friday as EMerge Interactive Inc. (ticker symbol: EMRG), whose Web site hosts live cattle auctions, soared in their trading debut along with most of the day’s other new stocks.

The Florida company, from the red-hot stable of incubator Internet Capital Group Inc., rose $32.25 to close at $47.25 on Nasdaq.

Other popular initial public offerings included Avanex Corp. (AVNX), up $136 to $172; FirePond Inc. (FIRE), up $78.25 to $100.25; Antigenics Inc. (AGEN), up $43.38 to $61.38; Therma-Wave Inc. (TWAV), up $17 to $37; WorldQuest Networks Inc. (WQNI), up $14.44 to $27.44.