Tag - KCAP

Kohlberg Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:KCAP) climbed nearly 10% this morning on the news that it plans to offer 4.5 million shares of its common stock to the public.

Just after the bell this morning, the New York-based investment firm said it will use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes including investing in portfolio companies that fall in line with its investment objective and strategies.

In connection with the offering, the company plans to grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 675,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

By late morning, Kohlberg is at $10.10, up $0.87 from Tuesday’s close. The stock has ranged between $7.71 and $15.60 during the past 52 weeks.

For detailed price information and news stories on Kohlberg Capital, click KCAP.

Small-cap stocks pushed higher early Wednesday, trying to recapture some of the huge losses from Tuesday’s collapse, which was powered by sinking financial, homebuilder and commodity shares. Financial shares were still on wobbly footing this morning, but commodity stocks were rising nicely. At 9:56 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 9.23, or 1.30%, at 716.52.

In the wake of Tuesday’s collapse, which marked the largest one-day swoon of 2008, traders were keeping a close eye on trading in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LEH), which released earnings under fire ahead of the opening after sinking more than 40% Tuesday. LEH, then nation’s fourth-largest investment bank, confirmed they were shopping prized assets in an effort to raise capital. The swirl of fear encompassing LEH seemed to calm somewhat this morning, with LEH shares bouncing back and forth near steady levels shortly after the open.

Well ahead of the opening, the MBA mortgage applications index jumped 9.5%, boosted by a decline in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate, which dipped to 6.06% from 6.39% the previous week. The market is basically economic indicator free today, ahead of Thursday’s weekly claims report and Friday’s PPI/retail sales tandem, which could set the tone for the finish to what has already been a wild week for stocks. Speaking of economic indicators, in a research report this morning, Goldman Sachs said that last Friday’s weak employment report “Closes the argument when it comes to whether or not the economy is in recession — it is.”

As recession talk in America picks up steam once again, it coincides with concerns that the global economy is also slowing, which has been blamed for some of the recent downdraft in commodity prices. In addition, some hedge funds that were long commodity stocks have been unraveling those trades, exacerbating the move. On the commodity front this morning, crude oil prices climbed back into positive territory into the stock market opening, rising about 90 cents a barrel back above $104. OPEC leaders surprised energy market watchers by deciding to trim output by 500,000 barrels a day at their meeting in Vienna Tuesday, which provides some support to energy prices. Stabilizing energy values however, represents a double-edged sword for equities; while it might support falling commodity names, it also thwarts . . .

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 . . .

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.