The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) pushed higher Friday, gaining a boost from merger activity in the banking sector, a jump in restaurant shares and a lift from news of a rescue plan for automakers. All of those factors help offset sloppy action in commodities, and worries about retailer sales into a key shopping weekend. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Provident Bankshares (Nasdaq:PBKS), MAP Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:MAPP) and Rubicon Technology (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Tech stocks were a noteworthy source of strength Friday.
• Energy and commodity physical markets struggled today, weighed down by concerns about demand amid slumping economic conditions.
• Crude oil futures eventually closed down $2.35 a barrel, or 6%, at $33.87, the lowest close for a nearby contract since February 2004.
• Retailer shares were a source of weakness for stocks today, a gloomy note into what has been billed as the busiest shopping weekend of the entire year.
• Looking ahead to next week’s action, the market will be facing what is historically one of the slowest weeks of the year. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• M&T Bank Corporation will qcquire Provident Bankshares Corp. (Nasdaq:PBKS); shares of PBKS closed up a whopping 60% on the news.
• MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MAPP) soared 36% on unusually . . .

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