Tag -  WVCM 

GSI Commerce Inc (Nasdaq:GSIC), BE Aerospace Inc (Nasdaq:BEAV) and Rent-A-Center Inc (Nasdaq:RCII) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Wavecom Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:WVCM), Cyberonics Inc (Nasdaq:CYBX), Delta Petroleum Corp (Nasdaq:DPTR), Pantry Inc (Nasdaq:PTRY), First Advantage Corp (Nasdaq:FADV) and Intersil Corp (Nasdaq:ISIL).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) started out the week with a whimper, unable to build on initial enthusiasm about a big stimulus plan out of China. Today’s small-cap gainers are Centennial Communications (Nasdaq:CYCL), American International Group (NYSE:AFF) and Wavecom SA (Nasdaq:WVCM).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Coal, agriculture products, aluminum, gold, metals and mining stocks and oil and gas drillers are top performers today.
• Anything REITS was getting hammered, as were automakers, wireless telecoms and investment bank stocks.
• Energy traders continue to be ultra sensitive to declines in equities, fearing a troubled economy will squash demand. 
• Copper jumped 8% in Asia, gold was on a roll and crude oil climbed 4% into the U.S. open.
• Crude oil futures eventually closed up about $1 a barrel for the day.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Centennial Communications Corp. soared 103% on unusually brisk volume on news that AT&T (NYSE:T) would buy the rural phone company for $944 million. See (Nasdaq:CYCL).
• U.S. plans more aid for AIG; shares closed up 62%. See (NYSE:AFF). 
• Wavecom SA jumped 23% on news that a hostile takeover of the firm was underway for the embedded wireless technology maker. See (Nasdaq:WVCM).

Small Cap Losers:

• Allied Capital Corp. tumbled some 43% today, as third quarter results did not impress investors. See (NYSE:ALD).
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. was off 37% as the outdoor advertising firm also get a thumbs down on earnings news. See (NYSE:CCO).
• Southwest Water Company dropped 37% as the water, wastewater and public works firm announced it will delay third quarter 10-Q filings (SEC quarterly . . .

Small-cap stocks started out the week with a whimper, unable to build on initial enthusiasm about a big stimulus plan out of China. In the end, worries about the economy, sagging financial shares and a belly flop in REITS was too much to overcome and the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) lost 12.69, or 2.51%, to 493.10. Small caps remained soft relative to large-caps, consistent with investor paranoia about risk right now. The Russell finished the day down 36% for the year, while the Dow is off 33% and the S&P 500 is down 37%.

The market came in on a high after China announced plans overnight to unleash a $586-billion stimulus package, aimed primarily at infrastructure improvements. The news sparked a 7% rally in Chinese stocks, a 5.8% surge in Japan equities and a 2% jump in European shares heading into the U.S. open.  Investors here in America seemed willing at first to carry the baton, with the Russell climbing nearly 2% right off the bat before hitting a wall.

Part of that wall was likely tied to concern about just how China would really funnel money into these projects and how much they were already going to do anyhow. Fair or not, there is a general sense that getting exact numbers out of China is a very inexact science. Still, extra money to pump life into the world’s fourth largest economy is clearly a good thing, and there are other worries to deal with, which also snuffed out some of the initial buying spark.

Commodities came into today’s session on fire overseas, eager to see the China stimulus plan as a bedrock for demand for physical goods. Copper jumped 8% in Asia, gold was on a roll and crude oil climbed 4% into the U.S. open. Although commodities remained a point of strength today for equities (the Commodity Research Bureau Index rose 1.7%), even those overnight gains were difficult to sustain. Crude oil futures eventually closed up about $1 a barrel for the day.

Financial stocks clearly struggled today, and an early lift from a G20 weekend statement supporting coordinated global plans to attack the financial crisis had a very short shelf life. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) climbed nearly 4% on the open, . . .

Small-cap stocks flashed some surprising upside muscle on the opening, but the initial support from bargain hunting was quickly countered by selling stirred by worries over the sluggish economy, a troubling jobs outlook and sloppy earnings numbers. Today’s small-cap gainers are VASCO Data Security International (Nasdaq:VDSI), F5 Networks (Nasdaq:FFIV) and inSim Technology (Nasdaq:WVCM).

Other Market Watch highlights today include:

• Crude oil prices turned up about $1 a barrel awaiting news from the OPEC meeting, where oil ministers are expected to slash production to offset sinking prices and soft demand.  
• The U.S. dollar was on firm footing this morning, which should continue to exert pressure on many commodities markets.  
• RealtyTrac estimated that 1 in every 475 homes received a foreclosure filing in September.  
• RealtyTrac released a report early this morning saying that foreclosures were up 21% from September 2007 and up a whopping 71% from the third-quarter of last year.
• Most analysts are predicting a sharp rise in unemployment levels in coming months. Greenspan said earlier today that there will be a significant rise in layoffs and unemployment still to come.

Small Cap Gainers:

• VASCO Data Security International surges 30% after reporting third-quarter results that topped Wall Street by a large margin. (Nasdaq:VDSI).  
• F5 Networks up 12% after fiscal fourth-quarter earnings beat the Street. See (Nasdaq:FFIV).  
• inSIM Technology said it will ensure reliable cellular connections for machine-to-machine devices in Brazil. See (Nasdaq:WVCM).  
• GSI Commerce gains after posting a third-quarter net loss that was narrower than expected. See (Nasdaq:GSIC).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Braskem SA tumbled 23% on light volume, as the Brazilian petrochemical company joined other Latin American ADRs in the recent tailspin. See (NYSE:BAK).  
• Phoenix Technologies Ltd. gapped lower and was down some 27% as the systems software firm released unimpressive quarterly results. See (Nasdaq:PTEC).  
• Exelixis said GlaxoSmithKline will not exercise its option to license XL184, which inhibits tumor growth drivers. See (Nasdaq:EXEL).
• Ticketing company Ticketmaster said it would acquire a controlling equity interest in Front Line Management Group. See (Nasdaq:TKTM).  

Shares of France’s Wavecom SA (Nasdaq:WVCM) gained nearly half their value Monday after the company reportedly received a $135.9 million buyout offer from Gemalto, another French company.

Wavecom, a provider of smart-device communications technology, saw its stock climb $2.52 to $8.12 on the news. Shares have ranged between $5.26 and $28.31 in the past year.

For detailed price information and news stories on Wavecom, click WVCM.

Wavecom Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:WVCM), Dendreon Corp. (Nasdaq:DNDN) and Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nasdaq:SLXP) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hampton Roads Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:HMPR), Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. (Nasdaq:AGM), 1st Source Corp. (Nasdaq:SRCE), Gamco Investors Inc. (Nasdaq:GBL), Navigators Group Inc. (Nasdaq:NAVG) and Lakeland Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:LKFN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

China East Air (Nasdaq:CEA), Fushi Copperweld Inc. (Nasdaq:FSIN) and Wavecom (Nasdaq:WVCM) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.           
         
Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:   

Preferred Bank (Nasdaq:PFBC), Anadigics Inc (Nasdaq:ANAD) 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: Wavecom (Nasdaq:WVCM), Arkansas Best Corp (Nasdaq:ABFS), First Place Financial Corp Ohio (Nasdaq:FPFC), Prestige Brands Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:PBH), SeaBright Insurance Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:SEAB) and FormFactor Inc (Nasdaq:FORM).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Stocks managed to eek out gains for the first day after two straight sessions of red, as investors shrugged off Ambac Financial Group Inc.'s (NYSE:ABK) lackluster outlook and embraced better-than-expected results from a range of technology companies.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) ended the day up 4.40 points, or 0.66%, to a level of 708.11, while the Dow gained 42.99 points, or 0.34%, to a level of 12763.22.

Trading was choppy for the day as investors digested a slew of earnings news from technology, industrial, tobacco, banks and commodity producers.

A large percentage advance was registered early today in Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SIRT), with the stock up a whopping 82% on news that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) would buy the company for $720 million . . .

Daktronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DAKT), The South Financial Group (Nasdaq:TSFG) and Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Rimage Corp. (Nasdaq:RIMG), Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq:WVCM) and Monaco Coach Corp. (NYSE:MNC) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

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

Small-cap stocks are slightly higher after fluctuating during morning trading. At 11:37 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 5.1, or 0.72%, at 708.81, as the market trimmed away opening gains in choppy action.

A large percentage advance was registered early today in Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SIRT), with the stock up a whopping 82% on heavy volume on news that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) would but the company for $720 million in cash. ANADIGICS Inc. (Nasdaq:ANAD) was up 24% following earnings results yesterday, and Silicon Graphics (Nasdaq:SGIC) was up about 23% after a heavy sell-off on Tuesday.

On the downside, Daktronics (Nasdaq:DAKT) was down 23% after sloppy earnings. Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI) was down 22% after the maker of cellulose-based specialty products cut its third-quarter earnings forecast to below Wall Street expectations. Rimage Corp. (Nasdaq:RIMG) was down 21% after releasing . . .

Small-cap stocks opened modestly higher after a see-saw overnight session. At 9:56 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 0.26, or 0.04%, at 703.45, as the market trimmed away opening gains in choppy action. Stability in the foreign exchange market, a decent batch of overnight earnings and mild short profit-taking provided mild support for stocks but the market appeared to be searching for a more dynamic directional bias this morning.

The U.S. dollar was up modestly at the beginning of U.S. trading and crude oil was down a couple bucks off Tuesday’s record high, which may have prompted a mild sigh of relief that the moves weren’t immediately extended. Still, the issue of a sluggish economy, coupled with rising food and energy costs, remains a major roadblock for equity market bulls. A USA Today poll said that rising food costs were a “significant” worry for Americans, with 73% of respondents citing higher grocery bills as a concern.

The market has seen quite a bit of daily volatility in recent days, with percentage moves in the 2% or more range every other day for six sessions. If that pattern holds true today, then this will be the “quiet” day on the rollercoaster ride. From a charting standpoint, the Russell has support today near 700, 695 and then a window . . .

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $50 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc.(Nasdaq:SIRT), up 82% on news that it will be acquired by GlaxoSmithKline for $720 million.

• Green Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:GRNB), up 14% on news that the bank reported first-quarter results that substantially beat the Street.

• China Finance Online Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq:JRJC), up 2%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq:WVCM) down 17%, on news that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter, while revenue declined 21%.

• Innovative Solutions & Support Inc. (Nasdaq:ISSC), down 14% on disappointing second-quarter results that clocked in below the Street.

• WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), down 8%, on lowered guidance for 2008.

Shares of Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq:WVCM) veering lower in pre-market trading after the provider of smart-device communications technology reported early Wednesday that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter and that revenues declined 21%. The Paris-based small cap attributed the lackluster results to sales have slowed in all of the firm’s regions, as some customers are taking a conservative position on placing orders and have pushed out new product development plans due to the uncertain worldwide economic situation.

Shares skidded 17%, or $2.05, to $9.85 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Wavecom, click WVCM. 

Shares of Wavecom (Nasdaq:WVCM) are treading higher ahead of the opening bell after the maker of embedded industrial wireless communication products said early this morning that it has been chosen as the single source for Tattletale Portable Alarm Systems’ cellular wireless technology.

Tattletale manufactures transportable, cellular security systems designed to protect any asset, anywhere in the United States or Canada.

Shares of Wavecom advanced 10.9%, or $1.27, to $12.93 ahead of the bell.

For detailed price information and recent news stories about Wavecom, click WVCM. 

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are down and the small-cap index will open lower on news of weak January retail sales.

The bears are ready to go on news that U.S. retailers reported January sales below expectations, indicating that consumer spending has declined and the economy is headed for, or already is in, a recession.

The Russell 2000 fell hard in the afternoon Wednesday, finishing down 9.09, or 1.30% at 692.49. This marked the third consecutive session that small caps closed below opening levels, the first time that has happened since the Jan. 22 low. Look for support today at 680 and 669, and resistance at 702, 712 and 721.

There are additional Federal Reserve speakers on the agenda today, but it’s unlikely they will carry the same kind of punch that we’ve seen recently. The docket includes Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart at 8:30 a.m. ET, and Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are down and the small-cap index will open with a decline on news of more mortgage losses.

Small-cap stocks are set for a bearish opening following news that Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MER) may suffer $15 billion in losses from investments in securities backed by mortgage loans. The loss is almost twice what the New York-based investment bank had initially estimated and an unpleasant reminder of how shockwaves from the stagnating U.S. housing market continue to ripple through financial markets.

Providing more unpleasant news is credit card issuer American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP), which announced that it will absorb a fourth-quarter pretax charge of about $440 million due to slower spending by card members and an increase in delinquencies. The company said that it now expects fourth-quarter earnings below the level a year earlier.

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:

• AmCOMP Inc. (AMCP), up 41% on news it will be acquired by Employers Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EIG).
• Columbia Bancorp (CBBO), up 20%.
• USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (USNA), up 16% on news an informal inquiry by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has ended with no action.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CADX), down 47% on news a clinical trial did not meet its primary endpoint.
• Opnext, Inc. (OPXT), down 14% on news that it expects fiscal third-quarter sales below Wall Street’s projections.
• Wavecom S.A. (WVCM), down 5%.

BIDZ.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDZ), Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU) and Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

ShengdaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDTH), Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTI) and GPC Biotech AG (Nasdaq: GPCB) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) led the way down as the major U.S. indices fell on news of Merrill Lynch’s third-quarter loss and a sharp drop in sales of existing U.S. homes. The small-cap index lost 7.68 points, or 0.94%, to 810.85. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) let go 0.98 points, or 0.01%, to 13,675.25.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has increased 2.98%, while the Dow has added 9.63% and the S&P 500 has advanced 7.01%.

Small-cap futures were pointing lower and stocks fell out of the gate on news that Merrill Lynch & Co Inc. (NYSE: MER) suffered its first quarterly loss in six years due to $7.9 billion in write-downs.

The world’s largest brokerage house reported a third-quarter net loss of $2.24 billion, or $2.82 per share, below its previous forecast and analysts’ projections. Merrill Lynch blamed the dismal result on being overly exposed to securities backed by subprime mortgages.

The news came as a nasty reminder of the far-reaching effects of the subprime meltdown, which came about as a result of the ongoing slump in the U.S. housing sector. Many mortgage lenders nationwide went bankrupt in the past months following a wave of foreclosures by cash-strapped homeowners.

And the housing sector continues to agonize, at least according to numbers released today by the National Association of Realtors.

The trade association reported that sales of existing U.S. homes fell 8% in September to an annual pace of 5.04 million. That’s the lowest level since the measure was introduced in 1999. The pace of sales in August was a downwardly revised 5.48 million.

WSB Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: WSFG), Hanmi Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: HAFC) and Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq: WVCM) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Shares of Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq: WVCM) are falling following news before the opening that revenues decreased during the third quarter.

Wavecome, a French wireless communications company, reported that revenue for the three months ended Sept. 30 fell 6.26% to $74.8 million, from $79.8 million a year earlier.

The company blamed the decline on slower summer demand and the weakness of the U.S. dollar, which discouraged European exporters from placing advance orders. Wavecom’s wireless technology is most often used in cell phones and vehicle location systems.

However, third-quarter net income shot up a breathtaking 275% to $4.8 million, or $0.29 per share, compared with a profit of $1.75 million, or $0.12 per share, during the same period in 2006.

At 3:17 p.m. ET, Wavecom S.A. (WVCM) shares had lost $4.56, or 17%, to $23.01. The 52-week low is $13.35, established on Oct. 30, 2006. The 52-week high of $39.19 was set on July 19.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is posting steeper losses this afternoon, with the other major U.S. indices also in negative territory. At 2:00 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had lost 18.77 points, or 2.29%, to 799.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was down 152.42 points, or 1.11%, to 13,523.81.

Small and large cap stocks are drowning in a sea of red following more negative news about the state of the U.S. housing sector and a nasty reminder of the far-reaching effects of the subprime mortgage meltdown on the financial sector.

Sales of existing U.S. homes fell 8% in September to an annual pace of 5.04 million, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s the lowest level since the Washington, D.C.-based trade association started keeping tabs in 1999 and a sign that the credit squeeze is sapping demand. The pace of sales in August was 5.48 million.

The median price of an existing home was $211,700 in September, a drop of 4.2% from a year earlier.

The housing sector started to sag in the second half of 2006, leading to a wave of foreclosures and causing a mess in the subprime mortgage sector.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is falling following news of a quarterly loss at Merrill Lynch and a decline in existing home sales.

At 10:55 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had lost 18.28 points, or 2.23%, to 800.25. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was down 137.63 points, or 1.01%, to 13,538.60.

New York-based Merrill Lynch & Co Inc. (NYSE: MER) announced before the opening that it suffered its first quarterly loss in six years due to $7.9 billion in write-downs, primarily due to bets made on mortgages and leveraged loans.

Merrill Lynch reported a third-quarter net loss of $2.24 billion, or $2.82 per share, far worse than its forecast on Oct. 5 of a loss of up to $0.50 per share. Wall Street was expecting a loss of $0.45 per share.

That’s a sign that the contagion from the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector remains active and capable of spreading shockwaves through the financial system. Chairman and CEO Stan O’Neal admitted that Merrill Lynch took a hit because it was too exposed to subprime, according to news reports.

Contributing to the bearish mood is news that U.S. sales of existing homes fell 8% in September, according to the National Association of Realtors. That’s an annual pace of 5.04 million, the lowest since NAR began keeping statistics in 1999.

AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASIA), China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN) and Isilon Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISLN) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (Nasadaq: LEND), Local.com Corp. (Nasdaq: LOCM) and Tercica, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRCA) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

VIVUS, Inc. (Nasdaq: VVUS), Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU) and Rural Cellular Corp. (Nasdaq: RCCC) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq: WVCM), Flow International Corp. (Nasdaq: FLOW) and Fuwei Films Co., Ltd (Nasdaq: FFHL) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

GPC Biotech AG (Nasdaq: GPCB), Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq: WVCM) and Versar Inc. (AMEX: VSR) are the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Wavecom SA (Paris:AVM) (Nasdaq:WVCM) and PEIKER Acustic announced ahead of the bell today that the BMW Group will integrate a PEIKER Acustic GmbH & Co. KG telephone kit with Wavecom wireless technology for hands-free telephone capability in future lines of passenger cars. 

The companies said that the combined PEIKER Acustic and Wavecom technology will allow drivers and passengers to make high quality, private or hands-free calls from the car, or by using a Bluetooth option.

Shares of Wavecom tumbled 11.78%, or $4.31, to $32.28 in Wednesday morning trading.

The following are the most actively traded companies in pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million: