Tag - NASDAQGM:VRUS

CRA International Inc. (Nasdaq:CRAI), Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. (Nasdaq:BGFV) and UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Pacific Capital Bancorp (Nasdaq:PCBC), FGX International Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:FGXI), Graco Inc. (Nasdaq:GGG), Enterprise Financial Services Corp. (Nasdaq:EFSC), Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:YAVY) and Pharmasset Inc. (Nasdaq:VRUS).

H&E Equipment Services Inc. (Nasdaq:HEES), ManTech International Corp. (Nasdaq:MANT) and First Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:FBNC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: United America Indemnity Ltd. (Nasdaq:INDM), Pharmasset Inc. (Nasdaq:VRUS), Telvent GIT SA (Nasdaq:TLVT), Bankrate Inc. (Nasdaq:RATE), Teekay Tankers Ltd. (Nasdaq:TNK) and NACCO Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:NC).

Pharmasset Inc. (Nasdaq:VRUS), ABM Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:ABM) and Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. (Nasdaq:BAGL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: BNC Bancorp (Nasdaq:BNCN), iPCS Inc. (Nasdaq:IPCS), TNS Inc. (Nasdaq:TNS), PDL BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:PDLI), Associated Estates Realty Corp. (Nasdaq:AEC) and Superior Well Services Inc. (Nasdaq:SWSI).

PetMed Express Inc (Nasdaq:PETS), Ness Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:NSTC) and American Commercial Lines Inc (Nasdaq:ACLI) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Innophos Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:IPHS), Pharmasset Inc (Nasdaq:VRUS), Eresearchtechnology Inc (Nasdaq:ERES), Hansen Medical Inc (Nasdaq:HNSN), Finish Line Inc (Nasdaq:FINL) and STEC Inc (Nasdaq:STEC).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) futures are slightly higher as investors react to news of a bullish private jobs report.

The private sector added 8,000 jobs in March, according to a monthly report by payroll company Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NYSE:ADP) before the start of trading. That’s a modest gain but it beats economists’ projections of a decline.

Small-cap stocks opened higher and stayed strong, ending Tuesday’s session near the highs for the day, while pushing above important short-term resistance near 705. The Russell 2000 closed at 710.64, up 22.67, or 3.30%, notching the third-largest one-day percentage gain of the year. Resistance comes in today at 716, but the critical spot is up around 724. Look for support at the aforementioned 705 area, then down at 696 and 688.

Today’s big event comes in the form of a scheduled appearance by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke before the congressional Joint Economic Committee, which could stir volatility into the trading session. The Factory Orders release at 10:00 a.m. ET will likely be upstaged by the Bernanke headlines.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are down sharply and the small-cap index will open with a drop.

Helping fuel the bearish mood is Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), which forecasted after the close on Tuesday that its second-quarter sales growth will slow to 29% from the 35% growth seen in the first quarter.

The reason: the Cupertino, Calif.-based company does not expect to be able to sustain previously strong sales of its trademark iPod.

Otherwise, Apple reported that its first-quarter profit was $1.58 billion, or $1.76 per share, compared with $1 billion, or $1.14 per share, a year earlier.

Contributing to the pessimism is Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT), which forecasted that it will swing to a loss in the current quarter due to sluggish demand for its mobile devices.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Globecomm Systems, Inc. (GCOM), up 14%.
• Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (COCO), up 11% despite news on Tuesday that it has lowered its 2008 guidance.
• Pharmasset Inc. (VRUS), up 6%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• First Cash Financial Services, Inc. (FCFS), down 22% on news of a decline in fourth-quarter profit.
• Charlotte Russe Holdings, Inc. (CHIC), down 9%.
• Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU), down 9% on news of a fiscal fourth-quarter sales guidance below Wall Street’s expectations.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices posted losses today following mixed housing news and more mortgage concerns. The small-cap index fell 19.09 points, or 2.64%, to 704.86. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) lost 238.42 points, or 1.86%, to 12,589.07.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has declined 7.99%, while the Dow is down 5.09% and the S&P 500 has shrunk 5.32%.

Small-cap stocks opened in positive territory and then gained more following news of an announcement at 10 a.m. ET that pending U.S. home sales fell 2.6% in November to a reading of 87.6.

The decline is more than what economists were expecting, but investors apparently liked the fact that the figures for October and September were revised higher.

Additionally, the National Association of Realtors reported that it expects existing-home sales to hold steady during the following months before rising later in the year and improving in 2009.

“On the one hand, we have a pent-up demand from the four million jobs added to our economy over the past two years of sales decline,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in a statement. “On the other, consumers continue to wait for additional signs of market stabilization.”

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is falling as investors take a dim view of the state of the U.S. housing market. At 1:53 p.m. ET, the small-cap index was down 3.57 points, or 0.49%, to 720.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 3.41 points, or 0.03%, to 12,830.90.

Stocks have trimmed their morning gains and small caps have fallen in the red following news that Countrywide Financial Corp. (NYSE: CFC), the biggest U.S. mortgage lender, is facing swelling debt-protection costs.

There’s speculation that the Calabasas, Calif.-based company, which had liquidity problems last summer due to the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector, could file for bankruptcy later this week.

That’s a stark reminder of the depth and size of the mess in the subprime mortgage sector, which began as U.S. home prices started to decline in the second half of 2006, leading to a wave of foreclosures and loan delinquencies.

A number of mortgage lenders have called it quits since then, but Countrywide will potentially be the biggest casualty yet.

That has apparently spooked investors.

Shortly after the start of trading the National Association of Realtors reported that pending U.S. home sales fell a more-than-expected 2.6% in November to a reading of 87.6. The October reading was an upwardly revised 89.9. The figure for September was also revised higher.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices are posting solid gains on news of data that point to a stabilization in the U.S. housing market.
 
At 10:49 a.m. ET, the small-cap index was up 5.28 points, or 0.73%, to 729.23. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 24.22 points, or 0.19%, to 12,851.71.

Pending U.S. home sales fell a more-than-expected 2.6% in November to a reading of 87.6, the National Association of Realtors reported after the start of trading. The October reading was an upwardly revised 89.9.

However, the numbers are seen as a positive sign for the troubled U.S. housing sector.

The Chicago-based trade group reported that the pending sales activity indicates that existing-home sales will hold steady in the coming months before rising late in the year.

“A meaningful recovery in existing-home sales could occur as early as this spring, or it may be further delayed toward late 2008,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, in a statement. “There are more people with financial capacity now than in 2005, but many are trying to market-time their purchase.”

Total new-home sales for 2007 are projected to fall to 773,000, and then decline further to 669,000 in 2008 before rising above 700,000 in 2009.

The stagnation in U.S. housing sector is one of the main factors dragging down domestic economic growth and raising fears of a possible recession.

Shifting gears, the bulls gained strength before the start of trading on news that the CEO of Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) is stepping down. The New York-based investment bank took a hard hit in 2007 due to the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector, which is inextricably tied to the problems in the housing sector.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) posted a gain for the first time in 2008 as most of the major U.S. indices ended a turbulent session in positive territory. The small-cap index climbed 2.35 points, or 0.33%, to 723.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) advanced 27.31 points, or 0.21%, to 12,827.49.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has lost 5.49%, while the Dow is down 3.30% and the S&P 500 has retreated 3.55%.

Small-cap stocks went on a rollercoaster ride that ended with a late-session rally that pushed the index into the green. Equities started the day higher, then fell abruptly after about 30 minutes and bounced around for the remainder of trading.

With no major news releases scheduled for today, investors turned their attention to future policy actions aimed at improving the U.S. economy and preventing a recession.

“The housing downturn and credit disruption will weigh on our economy and impose a penalty on our economic growth,” Treasury secretary Henry Paulson said in a speech to the New York Society of Securities Analysts this afternoon. “We will likely have further indications of slower growth in the weeks and months ahead.”

However, Paulson did not mention any new measures the Bush administration is planning to keep the economy moving forward and reiterated his belief that there will be no recession.

“While growth looks to have slowed considerably in the last part of 2007, our economy remains resilient and I expect it to continue to grow,” he said.

Also addressing the economy was President Bush, who called on the U.S. Congress to make some of his income tax cuts permanent and urged the passing of a number of housing-related proposals.

Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) shares are climbing to new heights after the pharmaceutical company reported that 85% of patients who took the firm’s Hepatitis C treatment in a Phase I clinical trial achieved undetectable levels of the disease after four weeks.

No serious adverse effects were reported during the trial. For the trial, 50 patients took two oral doses of R7128, the Princeton, N.J.-based company’s chronic Hepatitis C treatment candidate, in combination with two other treatments.

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 180 million people worldwide are infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

In afternoon trading, VRUS shares are soaring 43.67%, or $6.11, at $20.10. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $7.54 to $20.43.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices have recovered from a morning dip and are now posting gains. At 1:58 p.m. ET, the small-cap index was up 4.10 points, or 0.57%, to 725.70. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had added 8.29 points, or 0.06%, to 12,808.47.

Small-cap stocks are moving up as speculation of an upcoming interest rate cut encourages investors to snap up equities following Friday’s steep declines. The major U.S. indices were trending higher in the morning, with the exception of a brief fall shortly after 10 a.m. ET.

News of a worse-than-expected jobs report on Friday dropped stocks and heightened speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates to prevent the economy from slipping into recession. The Fed is scheduled to begin a two-day meeting on Jan. 29.

Economists generally agree that U.S. economic growth was slow in the fourth quarter of 2007, dragged down by the stagnating U.S. housing sector and tighter lending.

Observers will be listening to a speech by the U.S. Treasury secretary at 2 p.m. ET about measures the Bush administration plans on taking to give the economy a boost.

Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) reported this morning that it received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its prodrug R7128 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Pharmasset is currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate R7128 in combination with Pegasys and Copegus for treatment-naive patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1.

R7128 is a prodrug of PSI-6130, which is an oral cytidine nucleoside analog polymerase inhibitor of HCV that Pharmasset is developing with Roche.

Shares of Pharmasset (VRUS) were halted in pre-market trading.

eFuture Information Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: EFUT), China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: CHNR) and China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Hldg, Inc. (AMEX: KUN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Shares of Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) are higher following news before the opening bell that a Phase 1 study of a hepatitis C drug showed that it was safe and well tolerated.

R7128 demonstrated dose-dependent antiviral activity and successfully lowered virus levels in patients who had previously failed to respond to interferon therapy, according to preliminary results. None of the 40 chronically infected patients experienced any adverse affects following 14 days of monotherapy.

“R7128 has demonstrated the most potent antiviral activity...in doses suitable for progression into future combination studies,” said Dr. Michelle Berrey, Pharmasset’s Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

Wall Street is posting solid gains this morning on news of positive U.S. retail sales in June.

At 10:33 a.m. ET the Russell 2000 had gained 7.95 points, or 0.95 percent, to 847.92. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 126.89 points, or 0.93 percent, to 13,704.76, above its record close of 13,676.32 on June 4.

U.S. retailers increased their sales in June, led by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), which announced that same-store sales increased 2.4%, beating its own expectations. The Bentonville, Ark.-based giant had projected a rise of no more than 2%.

The rise in retail sales suggests that the American consumer remains resilient in the face of higher gas prices.

However, department stores Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) and J. C. Penney Company Inc. (NYSE: JCP) and Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS), which operates Saks Fifth Avenue, saw a decline in June comparable store sales.

In economic news, the U.S. trade deficit in May widened to $60.04 billion from $58.67 billion in April, the Commerce Department said before the opening bell. That’s inline with expectations.

The following were the most actively traded companies in Thursday’s trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million.