Tag - CHNR

China Distance Education Holdings Ltd (Nasdaq:DL), China Natural Resources Inc (Nasdaq:CHNR) and Zion Oil and Gas Inc (Nasdaq:ZN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: China Biotics Inc (Nasdaq:CHBT), Emulex Corp (Nasdaq:ELX), American Commercial Lines Inc (Nasdaq:ACLI), Prospect Capital Corp (Nasdaq:PSEC), Tongxin International Ltd (Nasdaq:TXIC) and Rubicon Technology Inc (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. (Nasdaq:MCRI), Kronos Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:KRO) and Unitil Corp. (Nasdaq:UTL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Willis Lease (Nasdaq:WLFCP), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:VNDA), Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:AACC), China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNR), PC Connection, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCCC) and United Western Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:UWBK).

Small-cap stocks opened higher, lifted by a rescue package for the nation’s No. 2 bank, which eased bank failure worries. In addition, optimism about President-elect Obama’s economic advisory team bolstered stocks Friday and remained in play today ahead of a news conference to announce his appointments. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNR), Omrix Biopharm (Nasdaq:OMRI) and CBRL Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CRBL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Copper prices were up 7% in China trading and a steep drop in the U.S. dollar against the euro should provide a lift to commodity markets.  
• Crude oil prices were up about $1.50 a barrel shortly after the open, down from the overnight peak, but still supported by the stock market upside push.
• In a radio address this weekend, Obama said he wants a two-year stimulus plan to have a goal of creating 2.5 million new jobs.  
• The rescue package for Citigroup Inc. includes $306B in loan guarantees on toxic debt assets and $20 billion in direct cash injection.

Small Cap Gainers:

• China Natural Resources Inc. was up 18% without any apparent fresh news other the general rise in commodities today. See (Nasdaq:CHNR).  
• Johnson & Johnson to acquire Omrix Biopharm for $438 Million; shares of OMRI up 17% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:OMRI).  
• CBRL Group Inc. is up 12% after the parent of Cracker Barrel restaurant and gift shops beat the earnings forecast. See (Nasdaq:CRBL).


Small Cap Losers:

• Cascade Bancorp down 13.6% on light volume in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CACB).  
• Fundtech down over 7% in pre-market after lowering its Q4 FY2008 outlook earlier this month. See (Nasdaq:FNDT).  
• Dish Network Corp. announces agreement with Rentrak Corporation for audience measurement reporting; shares are down nearly 3% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:DISH).  
• Barr shareholders approve pending Teva acquisition; shares down 2% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:TEVA).

Small-cap stocks opened higher, lifted by a rescue package for the nation’s No. 2 bank, which eased bank failure worries. In addition, optimism about President-elect Obama’s economic advisory team bolstered stocks Friday and remained in play today ahead of a news conference to announce his appointments. At 10:06 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 9.52, or 2.34%, at 416.06. The market appeared to add to the morning gains after the home sales report was released.

The existing home sales report came in at an annual rate of 4.98 million, which was basically in line with the forecast. October sales were off 3.1%, versus a 4.7% rise in September. The inventory of homes for sale was down 0.9% to 4.23 million units, representing 10.2 months of supply. The median price for a home tumbled 11.3%, the largest percentage drop since the data series was started 40 years ago.

The rescue package for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) includes $306 billion in loan guarantees on toxic debt assets and $20 billion in direct cash injection. Citigroup’s stock had been in a startling freefall in recent days, and there were concerns that the massive bank was in jeopardy of failure, which would carry broader systemic risk to the financial system, so today’s rescue news bolstered psychology across a wide range of financial stocks. Citigroup shares were up 41% shortly after the open. Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney said that she would maintain an “underperform” rating for Citigroup and that she was cautious about the bank’s futures losses and capital raising efforts. She also said that Citigroup shares at $5 represented a “speculative investment” that was appropriate for risk-tolerant investors.

President-elect Obama is slated to announce news on his economic team today at noon ET. The market already has embraced his apparent appointment of New York Federal Reserve Bank President Tim Geithner as the next Treasury Secretary. In a radio address this weekend, Obama said he wants a two-year stimulus plan to have a goal of creating 2.5 million new jobs. President Bush is also expected to make an announcement this morning around 10:35 a.m. ET after a morning meeting . . .

Small caps are rising in Wednesday’s afternoon trading, after three consecutive losing sessions. Promising economic data assuaged investors’ concerns about the financial sector after Moody’s Investors Service warned that it might lower the credit ratings of bond insurers Ambac Financial Group (NYSE:ABK) and MBIA Inc. (NYSE:MBI). At 2:13 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 6.37, or 0.86%, at 745.37.

The ADP private employment survey today showed a better-than-expected gain of 40,000 jobs in May. Nonfarm payrolls also jumped 60,000 in May. On Friday, the Labor Department reports its data on U.S. nonfarm payrolls for May.

Lower crude oil prices are easing inflation concerns. In afternoon trading, crude oil is down to $122.66 a barrel. Gold futures are also down in Wednesday afternoon action.

Lehman Bros. (NYSE:LEH) shares are dipping after the Wall Street Journal reported that the brokerage firm might need capital from foreign investors to strengthen its balance sheet. Further concerns about the financial sector were raised when ratings agency Fitch said overnight that a couple of large French banks needed to raise capital.

Moody’s Investors Service said Wednesday afternoon that MBIA Inc. has weak new business prospects and may incur higher losses on guarantees it sold on mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations. Moody’s put MBIA on review for a possible downgrade.

Broad market sectors under pressure include coal energy, home improvement retailers, oil and gas, metal mining, aerospace and defense companies. On the upside, airline, printing services, plastics and rubber, auto and truck manufacturers, school . . .

Small-cap shares hovered near steady levels, trimming away opening losses tied to ongoing concerns in the financial sector amid reports that banks and brokerages need to raise capital. Another slip in crude oil prices likely muted selling interest in equities. At 10:05 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was off 0.66, or 0.09%, at 738.35.

Lehman Bros. (NYSE:LEH) remains at the eye of the latest financial storm, and was trading down 3.4% shortly after the open after tumbling 9.4% Tuesday on persistent talk that the brokerage firm would need to raise capital to shore up the balance sheet. The banking concerns were fanned overnight when ratings agency Fitch said that a couple of large French banks needed to raise capital. The European stock market took a hit on those concerns, losing about 2% heading toward the U.S. open.

The market navigated through a series of economic data this morning, with the final report from the ISM Non-Manufacturing Survey coming out at 10:00 a.m. ET. The ISM data came in at 51.7%, which was above the 51% forecast. There was a brief upside pop on the ISM release, but it didn’t appear to hold trader attention for long.

Earlier today, the ADP private employment survey showed a surprise rise in new jobs in May, which tugged stocks off overnight lows at the time, but had little staying power into the morning trade. In addition to ADP payrolls, the market saw a productivity report that came in just above the forecast at 2.6%, and an MBA mortgage application index that was at six-year lows. The trading shelf life on all of these data releases was collectively short. Later this afternoon near 2:00 p.m. ET, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak at Harvard, but his speech topic is titled “Economic Challenges: 1975 and Now” and he’s not taking questions, so it’s unlikely his appearance will stir the market. That said, foreign exchange markets were still buzzing about his rare direct comments on the dollar from Tuesday, which sparked a rally in the greenback.

The opening slide in stocks took place in the face of soft crude oil prices, which shows that the market does have more on its mind right now than just the energy market. Crude oil prices slipped $124 dollars a barrel overnight, pressured by news that India and Malaysia raised fuel prices, which could crimp demand out of Asia. The weekly oil inventory data should come out around 10:35 a.m. ET, which could spark a . . .

Shares of China Natural Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHNR) are losing ground this morning after the Chinese mining company posted full year 2007 results after Tuesday’s close that declined from fiscal 2006. The company attributed the decline in revenues and earnings year-over-year to softening zinc prices and the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards.

Shares slid 7.3%, or $1.53, to $19.50 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about China Natural Resources, click CHNR.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:VNDA), Eresearchtechnology Inc (Nasdaq:ERES) and Fuel Tech Inc (Nasdaq:FTEK) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ), IPG Photonics Corp (Nasdaq:IPGP) and China Natural Resources Inc (Nasdaq:CHNR) are also among the most actively traded companies.

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Fossil fuels' days may be numbered, as nations across the globe make a push toward cleaner "green" energy alternatives, but oil, coal and natural gas will continue to provide the bulk of the world's electricity, heat and transportation fuels for the foreseeable future.

While China's alternative energy market is growing fast in an effort to meet Beijing's target of having 10% of its energy needs met by renewables (including solar, wind, hydro, biomass and wind power) by 2010, coal dominates the domestic energy market, supplying 75% of the country's power needs. Chinese coal companies are profiting handsomely from soaring coal prices. According to a China Galaxy Securities Research report, the average earnings growth of coal companies in the first quarter is projected to be 40% to 50%, while 2008 growth is expected to come in around 40%.

Which brings us to China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNR). China Natural Resources was incorporated in 1986 to seek out and invest in small Chinese companies. Since then, it has been involved in various ventures, including running Silver Moon, an online Traditional Chinese Medicine news and information resource, a supermarket in Zhuhai (in the Guangdong province), and timber operations (Xilian Timber Mill and Hainan Weilin Timber Limited). In 2004, the company acquired iSense Limited, through which it provided advertising, marketing and public relations services to clients in Mainland China and Hong Kong until selling the company in 2006.

Since then, the company has decided to invest in and focus on the mining industry. In February 2006, China Natural Resources acquired Feishang Mining Holdings Limited, an operation engaged in mining of zinc, iron and other minerals. Feishang operates . . .

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


• China Precision Steel, Inc. (CPSL), up 28%.
• China Natural Resources Inc. (CHNR), up 19%
• The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX), up 20% on news that the maker of railroad freight car equipment might merge with American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARII).


• Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (DTG), down 36% on news of a lowered 2007 earnings guidance.
• Coldwater Creek Inc. (CWTR), down 17% on news of an analyst downgrade.
• BankUnited Financial Corp. (BKUNA), down 18%.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is just above the flat line as investors react to the latest financial news.
 
At 10:41 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 1.98 points, or 0.26%, to 756.04. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 55.44 points, or 0.42%, to 13,287.91.

The futures were little changed this morning on news that Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) swung to a fourth-quarter loss due to $9.4 billion in mortgage-related write-downs. Quarterly net revenue was a negative $450 million, compared with a positive $7.85 billion a year ago.

The New York-based financial services giant responded by saying that it will sell as much as 9.9% of itself to a Chinese sovereign fund for $5 billion.

The move is similar to the one made by a number of financial heavyweights that posted losses on investments in securities that contain subprime home loans and then turned to foreign investors for a cash infusion to boost capital.

Today’s news once again highlights the wide reach of the contagion from the subprime mortgage crisis and its ability to infect the largest of financial actors. But the bulls will take solace in the fact that cash infusions will allow the wounded companies to continue their operations.

Elsewhere, a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed that mortgage applications for the week ended Dec. 14 decreased 19.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The Market Composite Index was 653.8, compared with 811.8 a week earlier. The four week moving average, a more stable measure, is down 1%.

Stagnating home prices and tighter lending standards have made many Americans unwilling or unable to purchase homes, further contributing the slump in the U.S. housing sector. The ailing housing sector is one of the major factors dragging down U.S. economic growth.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices opened with modest gains.
 
At 10:34 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 6.08 points, or 0.77%, to 791.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 102.75 points, or 0.75%, to 13,728.33.

The futures were pointing up and stocks are rising as investors anticipate the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on Tuesday. The Fed is widely expected to lower the federal funds rate, the rate at which commercial banks make overnight loans to each other, from the current level of 4.5%.

The ongoing, some would say intensifying, slump in the U.S. housing sector, combined with slowing growth in business spending and manufacturing, point to a decline in economic growth.

Factor in the credit squeeze, and you’ll begin to understand why many believe the Fed has no choice but to lower its target interest rate to give the economy a boost and ease financial strains.

quotesThe Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) posted the largest percentage gain as the major U.S. rallied on news of a plan to ease the pain on subprime borrowers. The small-cap index added 21.31 points, or 2.78%, to 786.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) moved up 174.93 points, or 1.30%, to 13,619.89.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 is off 0.06%, while the Dow has climbed 9.18% and the S&P 500 has advanced 6.41%.

The bulls completely dominated today on news that the U.S. government is introducing measures to prevent struggling borrowers with subprime adjustable-rate mortgages from entering foreclosure.

The plan, unveiled by the Bush Administration after the start of trading, will freeze the rates on some subprime mortgages with adjustable rate loans that are set to shift to higher rates, forcing many homeowners into foreclosure. The interest rates on more than one million mortgages will reset higher in 2008, potentially overwhelming borrowers who are currently struggling to make their monthly payments.

Stocks opened strong as investors anticipated news of the relief plan, which has yet to be voted on by the U.S. Congress, with the rally gaining speed after President Bush’s press conference.

As if on cue, the statistics reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association today showed the dire state of the U.S. housing market.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is posting strong gains as investors react to the U.S. government’s plan to provide help to homeowners. At 2:39 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 17.16 points, or 2.24%, to 782.80. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 107.87 points, or 0.80%, to 13,552.83.

The U.S. government and the lending industry have agreed to freeze the rates on some subprime mortgages to help cash-strapped borrowers and alleviate the prolonged slump in the housing sector. Some borrowers will be allowed to move to more favorable Federal Housing Administration mortgages.

The plan will affect borrowers with adjustable rate loans that are set to shift to higher rates, forcing many homeowners into foreclosure.

The relief comes just in time: the Mortgage Bankers Association reported today that 5.59% borrowers are now at least 30 days late making their mortgage payments, the highest percentage in more than 20 years. The trade group also said that the foreclosure process has been on 0.78% of mortgages in the three months ended Sept. 30, more than twice the rate a year ago.

Home prices began to stagnate in the second half of 2006 and the slump shows no signs of slowing down. The subsequent wave of foreclosures swelled the inventory of unsold homes, feeding the vicious cycle.

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

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Methode Electronics, Inc. (MEI), up 31% on news that fiscal second-quarter profit beat expectations.
• Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (FLE), up 23% on news of a narrower fiscal second-quarter loss.
• Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU), up 26% on news it will borrow up to $185 million for the construction of a polysilicon production plant.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc. (ISSC) down 20% on news of a wider fiscal fourth-quarter loss.
• Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ) down 13% on news of an analyst downgrade.
• China Natural Resources Inc. (CHNR), down 12%.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the Dow snapped a two-day losing streak to post solid gains on news of positive economic reports. The small-cap index added 13.58 points, or 1.81%, to 765.64. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) climbed 196.23 points, or 1.48%, to 13,444.96.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has lost 2.77%, while the Dow has gained 7.78% and the S&P 500 has advanced 4.83%.

The bulls owned the session today following news of a greater-than-expected rise in third-quarter U.S. productivity.

The Labor Department reported that non-farm U.S. productivity increased at an annualized rate of 6.3% during the third quarter, which is above the initially reported increase of 4.9% and the largest productivity gain in four years. Economists were expecting to see a narrower increase. Productivity rose 2.2% during the second quarter.

The same report also showed that unit labor costs, the cost of worker compensation and benefits per unit of manufactured output, declined 2%.

Unit labor costs are a key measure of inflation because if a rise in labor costs is not matched by a rise in productivity, the company must either absorb the increased costs or pass them along to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) continues to post strong gains, buoyed by news of upbeat economic data. At 2:09 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had climbed 12.38 points, or 1.65%, to 764.44. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had advanced 188.75 points, or 1.42%, to 13,437.48.

Non-farm U.S. productivity increased at an annualized rate of 6.3% during the third quarter, according to revised numbers released by the Labor Department before the start of trading.

That’s above the initially reported increase of 4.9% and the largest productivity gain since the third quarter of 2003.

Meanwhile, the same report showed that unit labor costs, a measure of inflation, fell 2%, as productivity increased and hourly compensation was revised downward.

That means that the U.S. economy can grow without a rise in inflation.

Numbers released after the start of trading by the Institute for Supply Management showed that non-manufacturing sector business activity fell to 54.1 from 55.8 in November.

SeaChange International (Nasdaq: SEAC), Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: SOLF) and China Finance Online Co. (Nasdaq: JRJC) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is posting strong gains despite news of worse-than-expected durable goods orders and a drop in existing home sales.

At 10:44 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had advanced 20.49 points, or 2.76%, to 763.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 230.87 points, or 1.78%, to 13,189.31.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported before the opening that orders for durable goods, which are goods intended to last at least three years, declined 0.4% in October to $214.45 billion. Economists were expecting orders to stay flat after falling a downwardly revised 1.4% in September.

New orders for non-defense capital goods, an important measure of business spending, fell 3.1% to $72.5 billion.

That tells us that businesses are growing cautious, another sign of a pending slowdown in economic growth.

Investors will also have their eyes on the U.S. Federal Reserve, which will release its “beige book” of information about regional economic conditions at 2 p.m. ET.

More bad economic news came in the form of a 1.2% drop in U.S. existing home sales.

The National Association of Realtors reported after the start of trading that existing home sales for October fell to an annual pace of 4.97 million from revised 5.03 million in September. Economists were expecting a more modest decline to an annual rate of five million.

Jones Soda Co. (Nasdaq: JSDA), Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq: SEED) and Sify Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: SIFY) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq: SEED), Ninetowns Internet Technlgy Grp Co Ltd. (Nasdaq: NINE) and VIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIAP) 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:

China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN), Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: SNTA) and Origin Agritech Ltd. (Nasdaq: SEED) are the most actively traded companies in Wednesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU), Yucheng Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: YTEC) and China Technology Development Group Corp. (Nasdaq: CTDC) are the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Edge Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq: EPEX), Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVN) and China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Hldg, Inc. (AMEX: KUN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

Xinhua Finance Media Ltd. (Nasdaq: XFML), China Technology Development Group Corp. (Nasdaq: CTDC) and China Techfaith Wireless Comm. Tech. Ltd (Nasdaq: CNTF) are the most actively traded companies in Monday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

SupportSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRT), Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNRK) and Security Bank Corp. (Nasdaq: SBKC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

KongZhong Corp. (Nasdaq: KONG), Cardica, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDC) and POZEN Inc.  (Nasdaq: POZN) are the most actively traded companies in Friday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

China Shenghuo Pharmaceutical Hldg, Inc. (AMEX: KUN), Cape Fear Bank Corp. (Nasdaq: CAPE) and SulphCo, Inc. (AMEX: SUF) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

CDC Corp. (Nasdaq: CHINA), eFuture Information Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: EFUT) and Penwest Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PPCO) are the most actively traded companies in Thursday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

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:

eFuture Information Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: EFUT), China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: CSUN) and China Technology Development Group Corp. (Nasdaq: CTDC) are the most actively traded companies in Wednesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Viacell, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIAC), China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: CHNR) and Tiens Biotech Group Inc. (AMEX: TBV) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Superconductor Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCON), China Precision Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSL) and Kreisler Manufacturing (Nasdaq: KRSL) are the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $500 million:

China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: CHNR), Spire Corp. (Nasdaq: SPIR) and BIDZ.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDZ) were among the new 52-week highs established Monday among companies with market capitalizations or values under $500 million.

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

Cardica, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDC), Virco Mfg. Corp. (Nasdaq: VIRC) and Applix, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Superconductor Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCON), Carolina National Corp. (Nasdaq: CNCP) and I.D. Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDSY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

Troy, N.C.-based First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC) announced it is buying Great Pee Dee Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: PEDE) for approximately $38.2 million in a stock-for-stock deal.

Qiao Xing Universal Telephone Inc. (Nasdaq: XING) announced it’s filing its FY06 report on July 16.

These are the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

These are the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

Physicians Formula Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: FACE) lowered its Q2 sales guidance to $21 million, from $22 million.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARIA) reported a federal court ruled in its favor in a patent infringement case against Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY).

Medical technology company Kensey Nash Corp. (Nasdaq: KNSY) reported it’s ceasing embolic protection activities. The closing of the operations will cost the company $5.1 million, or $0.28 per share, which will be recorded in the 2007 and 2008 fiscal years.

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

Continuing a streak of positive news, Irvine, Calif.-based Local.com Corp. (Nasdaq: LOCM) announced aesthetic and usability upgrades to its interactive mapping service.

Israeli DSL equipment maker Metalink Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTLK) announced that it’s working with Chinese wireless technology organization IGRS – the Intelligent Grouping and Resources Sharing Standardization Working Group – to provide HD-TV services for wireless home networks.

Solar energy equipment maker Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTI) reported it raised more than $20 million from the conversion of Class A public warrants.

Bank holding company First Indiana Corp. (Nasdaq: FINB) reported it’s being acquired by Milwaukee, Wis.-based holding company Marshall & Ilsley Corp. (NYSE: MI) for $32 per share, or about $529 million in cash.

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