Tag - HAFC

Silicon Motion Technology Corp (Nasdaq:SIMO), LandAmerica Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:LFG) and Online Resources Corp (Nasdaq:ORCC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: LECG Corporation (Nasdaq:XPRT), Ultimate Software Group Inc (Nasdaq:ULTI), Asbury Auto GP Ord Shs (Nasdaq:ABG), ICT Group Inc (Nasdaq:ICTG), Hanmi Financial (Nasdaq:HAFC) and Stewart Information Services Corp (Nasdaq:STC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Saia Inc (Nasdaq:SAIA), Brigham Exploration Co (Nasdaq:BEXP) and Hanmi Financial (Nasdaq:HAFC) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Alvarion Ltd (Nasdaq:ALVR), Kohlberg Capital Corp (Nasdaq:KCAP), ATA Inc (Nasdaq:ATAI), BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:BPAX), Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd (Nasdaq:ALDN) and Dendreon Corp (Nasdaq:DNDN).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

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:

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.