Tag - AVAN

Vaccine developer Avant Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN) said early this morning that it has secured funding from the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an institute of the National Institutes of Health, for a phase 1 safety study of its investigational oral vaccine aimed at protecting against both enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and cholera.

ETEC infection is a major cause of travelers’ diarrhea.

Shares gained 4.2%, or $0.71, to $17.61 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Avant, click AVAN.

Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL), Carrols Restaurant Group (Nasdaq:TAST) and Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

SAVVIS Inc (Nasdaq:SVVS), USA Mobility Inc (Nasdaq:USMO) and Sun Healthcare Group Inc (Nasdaq:SUNH) are also among the most actively traded companies.

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL), Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN) and Brigham Exploration Co (Nasdaq:BEXP) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

GMX Resources Inc (Nasdaq:GMXR), Abiomed Inc (Nasdaq:ABMD) and CardioNet Inc (Nasdaq:BEAT) are also among the new 52-week highs.

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

Small-cap stocks pushed lower Monday as credit crunch fears resurfaced, igniting a flurry of selling in the financial sector that spread into several other arenas as well. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) tumbled 7.25, or 0.97%, to 741.03. For much of the day, small caps appeared set to generate the largest one-day percentage decline in nearly a month, but some late buying in the final half-hour lifted the market well off the intraday lows.

Renewed concerns about the credit crisis originated overseas in the United Kingdom when Bradford & Bingley (LON:BB), a large mortgage provider for residential rental units said that housing market woes are deepening. Shares in Bradford & Bingley tumbled 24% and sparked selling enthusiasm in various European banks.

Selling in financial shares picked up additional momentum when Standard & Poor’s lowered credit ratings on some key U.S. securities firms. Lehman Bros. (NYSE:LEH) shed over 7% on the ratings news, while Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) both lost over 3%.

In addition to the concerns over mortgage houses, brokerage firms and other financial shares, a couple of major American banks changed up top management leaders, which also shook up the market. Wachovia Corp. (NYSE:WB) ousted its CEO and the stock slid about 2%. Meanwhile, Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM), said it would strip away the title of chairman from its chief executive next month. Washington Mutual shares dipped to their lowest level since mid-March on the news, but bounced back to close near steady levels.

Even though the credit crunch concerns dominated investor psychology today, a reversal in crude oil from overnight losses probably didn’t help matters for the bulls. Crude oil climbed back to nearly $128 dollars a barrel, while gold pushed higher. In addition, wheat futures jumped 2.7% and corn rallied about 2.6%. The Commodity Research Bureau Index climbed 0.85% and is just slightly below the record . . .

Royale Energy Inc (Nasdaq:ROYL), Acorda Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:ACOR) and Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

American Electric Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:AETI), Mexco Energy Corp (Nasdaq:MXC) and Brigham Exploration Co (Nasdaq:BEXP) are also among the biggest percentage gainers.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small caps kicked off the second half of the year sharply lower in morning trading and remained in the red midday after the credit crunch’s aftershocks resurfaced and gripped the market.

At 12:27 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) had sold off 8.46, or 1.13%, at 739.82, while the Dow is down 150.95, or 1.19%, to 12,487.37.

Small caps saw a broad sell-off Monday as major financial firms disclosed unsettling management shifts. Wachovia (NYSE:WB) said this morning that it is replacing CEO Ken Thompson with Chairman Lanty Smith on an interim basis, while Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM) reported that Kerry Killinger will leave his post as chairman, but will retain his position as CEO of the bank and home lender. Shares of Wachovia plunged to their lowest level since 1995.

Across the pond, Britain’s largest mortgage lender to residential rental units Bradford & Bingley (LON:BB) said that the housing market was getting worse and that it will slash the amount of cash it was initially expected to raise through a rights issue. Private equity firm TPG is expected to take a 20% stake in the hard hit lender.

Economic news out today added to market jitters, painting an austere macro picture. Construction spending sputtered to 0.4% in the month of April, below the 0.5% economists were expecting.

Pyramid Oil Co (Nasdaq:PDO), Callon Petroleum Co (Nasdaq:CPE) and Vantage Energy Services (Nasdaq:VTG) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Prestige Brands Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:PBH), RAM Energy Resources Inc (Nasdaq:RAME) and Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN) are also among the new 52-week highs.

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

Pyramid Oil Co (Nasdaq:PDO), National Coal Corp (Nasdaq:NCOC) and A Power Energy Generation Systems (Nasdaq:APWR) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN), HQ Sustainable Maritime Industries Inc (Nasdaq:HQS) and UFP Technologies Inc (NYSE:UFPT) are also among the new 52-week highs.

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

Iomai Corp (Nasdaq:IOMI), Fuel Systems Solutions Inc (Nasdaq:FSYS) and USANA Health Sciences Inc (Nasdaq:USNA) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:AVAN), LaserCard Corp (Nasdaq:LCRD) and North American Palladium Ltd (Nasdaq:PAL) are also among the biggest percentage gainers.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks opened lower and traded in a fairly narrow range during the rest of today’s session, trimming losses off the lows, but never catching up with a tame rise in the Dow and S&P 500. In the end, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) tumbled 5.39, or 0.76%, to 708.00, but an inside session dip for the small-cap index in the shadow of Wednesday’s big rise wasn’t all that unsettling.

However, if it all feels like a familiar refrain, you’re right. The Russell 2000 has now had five 3% one-day gains so far this year, and has now closed lower four times and was flat in the other instance. In essence, the market has been unable to sustain momentum off big rally days as investors are unwilling to take a stand that the worst is over for stocks. When the stock market starts to fly, investors are more willing to buy into strength and fund managers will scramble to catch up with the market. For now, the inability to sustain rallies suggests that the market is still burdened by caution. In the long haul, creating a “wall of worry” isn’t necessarily a bad thing when stocks are trying a build a foundation low, but it can create volatility, uncertainty and rollercoaster-price moves along the way.

Economic news today was less embraced by investors than what we saw during Wednesday’s big upside push. The most dynamic report came from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, as their survey on manufacturing activity in the area came in down 24.9%, well below the market forecast which was in the minus 15 to . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) stumbled on the opening, unable to extend the big rally from Wednesday’s action. At 10:05 a.m. ET, the Russell was down 7.60, or 1.06%, at 705.79 as a profit-taking mentality from those who caught the rise Wednesday dominated early action.

As the market progresses today, it will be important for the Russell to find support above the old swingline at 700. If the selling pressure begins to intensify, 695 is the next support zone to watch. Any move back into the green would be an important show of resilience as the market has been unable to sustain upside momentum after 3% rally days so far this year.

The market remained under pressure after the Philly Fed survey, which came out at 10:00 a.m. ET, was down 24.9%, quite a bit worse than the market forecast of a 15% loss. The sobering Philly Fed numbers overshadowed the Leading Indicators report, which rose 0.1%, in line with expectations.

Ahead of this morning’s opening, the Weekly Claims report was relatively close to the forecast, and quickly fell off traders’ radar screens, especially ahead of the Philly Fed and Leading Indicator reports.

With crude oil tipping the scales at fresh record highs this morning near $115 dollars a barrel and gasoline pump prices climbing before we’ve even reached . . .

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


• AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAN), up 32% on news it has licensed one of its vaccines to Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE).
• Fuqi International, Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI), up 20%.
• Avocent Corp. (Nasdaq:AVCT), up 16%


• Epicor Software Corp. (Nasdaq:EPIC), down 14% on news it has lowered its full-year earnings and revenue outlook.
• ViroPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:VPHM), down 6% on news it has stopped developing a hepatitis C drug.
• AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI), down 5% on news of a first-quarter loss.

The small cap index is taking part in the bull market, as U.S. stocks move up after news of an unexpected rise in consumer confidence.  Among specific small caps, shares of Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PESI) are gaining on news the company might sell one of its divisions, while AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAN) said that its typhoid fever drug showed positive clinical trial results.

At 11:37 a.m. ET the Russell 2000 had added 1.13 points, or 0.14%, to 816.77.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 50.47 points, or 0.37%, to 13,527.19.