IPO Market Set to End 1998 With Bang Rather Than Whimper

The market for initial public offerings looks set to finish 1998 with a bang rather than a whimper, as several technology firms and CBS Corp.'s Infinity Broadcasting Corp. radio and billboard unit currently plan IPOs between the Thanksgiving and year-end holidays.

Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch Inc., an online provider of tickets to live events and local city guides, and E-Tek Dynamics Inc., a maker of components for fiber optic networks, both plan initial stock sales next week. Xoom.com Inc., an online direct marketing company, and InfoSpace.com, a syndicator of information for Internet sites, are scheduled to go public the following week, which begins Monday, Dec. 7. Internet auction firm UBid Inc., a unit of Creative Computers Inc., plans an initial stock sale either next week or the following.