Tag -  FED 

Small-cap stocks remained higher into the midday time frame, but the market did pull back well off the morning highs. A White House lifeline to automakers lifted market sentiment, and tech stocks were solid performers, helping to counter declines in retail and some commodity names, but the morning rise appeared to be on precarious footing heading into afternoon trading. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are MAP Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:MAPP), AbitibiBowater (NYSE:ABH) and China Eastern Airlines Corp.  (NYSE:CEA).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The poorest performers so far included forest products, steel companies, home improvement retailers, footwear manufacturers and dept stores 
• The market could be vulnerable to a “buy-the-rumor, sell-the-fact” response to the automaker bailout now that the package is a known event.
• Energy stocks are up about 1% even though crude oil prices are down about $0.70 a barrel and tumbled to fresh 4 ½-year lows earlier today.  
• The best performers are industrial REITs, automobile manufacturers, IT consulting firms, gas utilities companies, managed healthcare firms.  
• Small-cap stocks remained higher into the midday time frame, but the market did pull back well off the morning highs. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Midas Inc. jumped 24% as the Canadian life sciences company appears to be breaking out to the upside after an extended bottoming process. See (NYSE:MDS).  
• Alamo Group Inc. jumped 22% as the snow removal and tractor equipment product maker has seen unusually wide price swings this week. See (NYSE:ALG).  
• Bottomline Technologies rises 18% after announcing a partnership with QAD earlier this week. See (Nasdaq:EPAY)


Small Cap Losers:

• W Holding Company down 28% on lower-than-average volume. See (NYSE:WHI).
• FirstFed Financial is down 15% on heavy short interest. See (NYSE:FED).  
• Gushan Environmental Energy down 12% as energy stocks are on the slide today. See (NYSE:GU).  
• Gabelli & Co. downgrades Tennant to "sell;" shares fall 10%. See (NYSE:TNC). 

Small-cap stocks turned lower at midday as slumping technology shares weighed on investor psychology and offset optimism over yet another new government credit facility aimed to encourage consumer loan activity. In addition, fresh economic data had a predominantly gloomy tone and the market may have been ripe for a breather following two days of dramatic advances. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Lennar Corp. (NYSE:LEN), DR Horton Inc. (NYSE:DHI) and American Woodmark (Nasdaq:AMWD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Retailers were in rally mode Monday, but were struggling to stay positive today, just a few days in front of Black Friday  
• The worst performers so far are home: ent. software, specialty stores, asset management firms, distillers and vineyards, and dept. stores.  
• Consumer confidence levels actually improved more than expected, rising to 49.9, up from the forecast of 38.5 (but still low historically).  
• Homebuilders are the best performers, followed by construction materials, managed health care, building products and Internet software.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Lennar Corp. soared some 52% as the second-largest U.S. homebuilder benefited from an analyst upgrade. See (NYSE:LEN).  
• DR Horton Inc. jumped 25%, riding the overall housing updraft today despite reporting larger-than-expected quarterly losses. See (NYSE:DHI).
• American Woodmark up 18% after posting narrower-than-expected Q2 loss. See (Nasdaq:AMWD).
• Media and marketing company Alloy, Inc. up over 15% today on light volume, paring much of the losses it suffered on Monday See (Nasdaq:ALOY).  

Small Cap Losers:

• K-V Pharmaceuticals drops 24% after a bevy of law firms launch investigations into the small cap concerning losses suffered by investors who purchased stock between Feb. 15 and Nov. 12. See (NYSE:KV.A).  
• FirstFed Financial Corp. down 21% today on no fresh news. Over the weekend the savings and loan holding company declared a dividend. See (NYSE:FED).
• BankAtlantic Corp. down another 20% today following news on Friday that the SEC launched a probe into the company's handling of troubled loans and some of its officers' stock transactions. See (NYSE:BBX).  
• Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. tumbled 19% as investors backed away from the beauty retailer ahead of an earnings conference call this afternoon. See (Nasdaq:ULTA).  

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (Nasdaq:CTB), Zones Inc. (Nasdaq:ZONS) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FED) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAG), Meritage Homes Corp. (Nasdaq:MTH), Macquarie Infrastructure Co LLC (Nasdaq:MIC), Stage Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:SSI), Magal Security Systems (Nasdaq:MAGS) and PHH Corp. (Nasdaq:PHH).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

EDCI Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:EDCI), Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. (Nasdaq:AGM) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FED) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: SureWest Communications (Nasdaq:SURW), Citizens Holdings Co. (Nasdaq:CIZN), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC), Ambac Financial Group.5.875% March 24 2103 Debentures (Nasdaq:AKT), ICx Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:ICXT) and Midsouth Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:MSL).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Virtual Radiologic Corp. (Nasdaq:VRAD), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FED) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:CALM), A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC), Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Maguire Properties REIT (Nasdaq:MPG) and WuXi PharmaTech Cayman Inc. (Nasdaq:WX).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

<strong>Perfumania Holdings Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq<a href="/ticker/perf">:PERF</a>),<strong> FirstFed Financial Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/fed">FED</a>) and <strong>Orthofix International NV</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/ofix">OFIX</a>) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.<br /> <br /> Also included among the results:<strong> Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/svnt">SVNT</a>), <strong>Echelon Corp</strong>. (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/elon">ELON</a>), <strong>Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/exm">EXM</a>), <strong>Frontier Financial Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/ftbk">FTBK</a>), <strong>Consolidated Water Co Ltd. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/cwco">CWCO</a>) and <strong>American Reprographics Co. </strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/arp">ARP</a>).<br /> <br /> Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

FirstFed Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:FED), Zale Corp. (Nasdaq:ZLC) and Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq:SEED) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG), Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ALXA), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC), Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL), Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MBHI) and MGIC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:MTG).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

TechTarget Inc (Nasdaq:TTGT), Sturm Ruger & Co Inc (Nasdaq:RGR) and Benchmark Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:BHE) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), iStar Financial (Nasdaq:SFI), Gencor Industries Inc (Nasdaq:GENC), MKS Instruments Inc (Nasdaq:MKSI), Chipotle Mexican Grill (Nasdaq:CMG) and Consolidated Graphics Inc (Nasdaq:CGX).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), TierOne Corp (Nasdaq:TONE) and Independent Bank Corp (Michigan) (Nasdaq:IBCP) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: QCR Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:QCRH), Lake Shore Bancorp (Nasdaq:LSBK), Green Bankshares Inc (Nasdaq:GRNB), Computer Task Group Inc (Nasdaq:CTGX), Sterling Financial Corp (Nasdaq:STSA) and Nexxus Lighting Inc (Nasdaq:NEXS).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

FCStone Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCSX), Columbia Banking System Inc (Nasdaq:COLB) and United Community Bancorp (Nasdaq:UCBA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Entercom Communications Corp (Nasdaq:ETM), FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), MGIC Investment Corp (Nasdaq:MTG), Zumiez Inc (Nasdaq:ZUMZ), Investors Title Co (Nasdaq:ITIC) and Penford Corp (Nasdaq:PENX).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Interactive Intelligence Inc (Nasdaq:ININ), FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED) and Virtusa Corp (Nasdaq:VRTU) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Landmark Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:LARK), Orthofix International NV (Nasdaq:OFIX), Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc (Nasdaq:BBW), Bankrate Inc (Nasdaq:RATE), CCA Industries Inc (Nasdaq:CAW) and Umpqua Holdings Corp (Nasdaq:UMPQ).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

SunOpta Inc. (Nasdaq:STKL), Horizon Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:HRZB) and Christopher & Banks Corp. (NYSE:CBK)  are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS), O2Micro International Ltd. (Nasdaq:OIIM), LanOptics Ltd. (Nasdaq:EZCH), FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) and Ambac Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:AKT).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Atlantic Southern Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:ASFN), Arbor Realty Trust Inc (Nasdaq:ABR) and East West Bancp Inc (Nasdaq:EWBC) are among the new 52-week lows in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Temecula Valley Inc (Nasdaq:TMCV), FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq:SNIC), KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC (Nasdaq:KFS), Midwest Banc Inc (Nasdaq:MBHI) and American Apparel Inc (Nasdaq:APP).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), Hooker Furniture Corp (Nasdaq:HOFT) and Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq:SNIC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: East West Bancp Inc (Nasdaq:EWBC), Tufco Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:TFCO), Heritage Financial Group (Nasdaq:HBOS), Consolidated Water Co Ltd (Nasdaq:CWCO), Protherics (Nasdaq:PTIL) and AuthenTec Inc (Nasdaq:AUTH).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Small caps are in a steady downward slide as crude oil prices gushed higher, keeping inflation concerns forefront in investors’ minds. At 2:16 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 7.96, or 1.09%, at 724.66.

In recent trading, crude oil futures were up to $136.90 a barrel. The U.S. dollar was down against both the yen and the euro.

“Yesterday, the International Energy Agency or IEA said growth in global oil demand is heading toward a six-year low and may go lower with record prices still filtering through the markets,” Andy Busch, foreign exchange strategist for BMO Capital Markets, wrote in an email. “In its monthly oil-market report, they said they see world oil demand growing 0.9%, or 800,000 barrels a day, this year in a market of 86 million barrels a day. Clearly, the higher price for gasoline and diesel is showing up in several places: less petrol tax revenue in France, less fuel sales for retailers in the U.K. (maybe as much as 20% year over year), and less miles driven in the United States (lowest in March since 1979).”

The surging price of oil has prompted Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to suggest in recent speeches that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates to combat inflation.

In acquisition news, Staples Inc. (Nasdaq:SPLS) reportedly finalized a deal to purchase Dutch company Corporate Express; any large-cap M&A activity tends to be embraced by the overall stock market.

The weekly MBA mortgage application index rose 10.9% and the purchase index climbed 12.8% to a four-week high. This data series is volatile and has been on the decline in line with the slumping housing market, but the rise in the latest . . .

Intervest Bancshares Corp (Nasdaq:IBCA), CompuCredit Corp (Nasdaq:CCRT) and FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Synchronoss Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:SNCR), Downey Financial Corp (Nasdaq:DSL), Amcore Financial Inc (Nasdaq:AMFI), Gaiam Inc (Nasdaq:GAIA), Rainier Pacific Financial Group (Nasdaq:RPFG) and General Finance Corp (Nasdaq:GFN).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed lower on news that Wachovia Corp. (NYSE:WB) suffered a first-quarter loss. The small-cap index fell 2.09 points, or 0.30%, to 686.07. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 23.36 points, or 0.19%, to 12,302.06.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has shed 10.44%, while the Dow is off 7.26% and the S&P 500 is down 9.54%.

The bears and the bulls tangled but the bears were eventually victorious as investors reacted to news before the opening that Wachovia Corp. (NYSE:WB) swung to a first-quarter loss and will sell common and preferred stock to raise capital.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank has been relatively less exposed to the subprime mortgage mess than the other major financial institutions, leading to speculation that more players will report losses.

Banks were among the worst hit industry groups today. Among those . . .

Crescent Banking Co. (Nasdaq:CSNT), Babcock & Brown Air Ltd. (NYSE:FLY) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) were among the new 52-week lows established during Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

Provident Community Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:PCBS), Cooperative Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:COOP) and Downey Financial Corp. (NYSE:DSL) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

American Apparel Inc. (AMEX:APP), Community Central Bank Corp. (Nasdaq:CCBD) and Babcock & Brown Air Ltd. (NYSE:FLY) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Endocare, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENDO), Downey Financial Corp. (NYSE:DSL) and FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Monday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Delta Apparel, Inc. (AMEX:DLA), FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) and Riviera Holdings Corp. (AMEX:RIV) were among the new 52-week lows established during Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

PFF Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:PFB), TierOne Corp. (Nasdaq:TONE) and PennantPark Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:PNNT) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

Orthofix International NV (Nasdaq:OFIX), FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) and Bank of the Carolinas Corp. (Nasdaq:BCAR) were among the new 52-week lows established during Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

Salary.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:SLRY), DemandTec, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMAN) and 4 Kids Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:KDE) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

Shares of FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) are lower on news that the savings and loan holding company has been downgraded to “neutral” from “outperform” by financial services firm Credit Suisse. A research note published after the close on Thursday expressed concern over an increase in FirstFed’s non-performing assets, according to news reports.

At 12:52 p.m. ET, the stock was down $1.70, or 7%, to $24.58.