Small-cap stocks remain high in midday; LMNX, EBS, and INT lead gainers

Small-cap stocks remained higher into midday as investors looked beyond an awful reading on employment to snatch up bargains into the weekend. Gains for commodity stocks and drugs shares helped offset weakness in financials. Today’s small-cap gainers are Luminex Corporation (Nasdaq:LMNX), Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) and World Fuel Services (NYSE:INT).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up 2.9% at midday, outperforming the broad market indices.  
• Today holds an afternoon press conference by President-elect Obama, who is huddled with economic leaders in Chicago.  
• Financial shares were limping along today and automakers were in full retreat mode.  
• Small-cap stocks remained higher into midday as investors looked beyond an awful reading on employment to snatch up bargains into the weekend.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Luminex Corporation rallied 24% as the genetic analysis firm also received a lift from earnings news. See (Nasdaq:LMNX).  
• Emergent BioSolutions Q3 profit rises; revises FY08 earnings. Shares climb 18%. See (NYSE:EBS).
• World Fuel Services up 18% as Q3 profit soars on higher revenues. See (NYSE:INT). 
• AmeriCredit announces extension of offer to repurchase 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2023. Shares up 15%. See (NYSE:ACF).  
• Mirant 3Q earnings double on hedging gains, shares up 5%. See (NYSE:MIR).  


Small Cap Losers:

• RHI Entertainment Inc. slumped 27% as the made-for-television entertainment company released earnings results. See (Nasdaq:RHIE).
• Talbots to sell J. Jill, pulls outlook; stock down over 20%. See (NYSE:TLB).  
• Syniverse Holdings down 13% today following a downgrade by Robert W. Baird earlier this week. See (NYSE:SVR).  
• Bio-Rad's Q3 revenues climb 30%, charges related to DiaMed acquisition cut into the firm’s profit for the quarter. Shares slump 11%. See (NYSE:BIO).  

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