Tag - NASDAQGS:STRA

There have been graduations and degradations, but the results are in. Russell Investments has reconstituted its small-cap Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) index.

In an effort to maintain true representation of global equity markets and ensure changes in the market are accurately reflected, Russell Investments annually rebalances all of its indices, including the Russell 2000.

Through all the shuffling, health care saw the most action on the upside. Fifty-three health-care companies were invited to join the small-cap index, while 30 companies were ousted according to the Associated Press.

Biomarin Pharmaceutical (Nasdaq:BMRN), Hologic Inc. (Nasdaq:HOLX), Illumina Inc. (Nasdaq:ILMN), Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. (AMEX:IMA) and Perrigo Co. (Nasdaq:PRGO) graduated to the Russell 1000, Russell’s large-cap index, from the Russell 2000. PDL BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:PDLI), on the other hand, slid to the Russell 2000 from the Russell 1000.

Following the health care sector, the technology and consumer discretionary sectors saw the most additions to the Russell, while consumer discretionary also saw the most deletions, unsurprising with the strapped consumer.

Thirty-seven technology companies were added, while 24 were jettisoned. Ansys Inc. (Nasdaq:ANSS), Equinix Inc. (Nasdaq:EQIX), Flir Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:FLIR), Nuance Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:NUAN), On Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:ONNN) and SAIC Inc. (NYSE:SAI) climbed to the Russell 1000 from the Russell 2000. Acxiom Corp. (Nasdaq:ACXM), Riverbed Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RVBD), Sanmina-SCI Corp. (Nasdaq:SANM) and Verifone . . .