Tag - MHO

Pricesmart Inc. (Nasdaq:PSMT), Franklin Covey Co. (Nasdaq:FC) and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Investors Title Co. (Nasdaq:ITIC), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MAPP), Trina Solar Ltd. (Nasdaq:TSL) and EZchip Semiconductor Ltd. (Nasdaq:EZCH).

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (Nasdaq:SCR), RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq:RXII) and Stewardship Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:SSFN) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Prestige Brands Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:PBH), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), eHealth Inc. (Nasdaq:EHTH), K-Fed Bancorp (Nasdaq:KFED), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq:ZION) and MSCI Inc. (Nasdaq:MXB).

Orient Express Hotels Ltd. (Nasdaq:OEH), Greenbrier Companies Inc. (Nasdaq:GBX) and UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results:Graham Corp. (Nasdaq:GHM), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Heartland Financial USA Inc. (Nasdaq:HTLF), XenoPort Inc. (Nasdaq:XNPT) and Central Pacific Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CPF).

Macerich REIT (Nasdaq:MAC), CTC Media Inc. (Nasdaq:CTCM) and Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. (Nasdaq:ISLE) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ashland Inc. (Nasdaq:ASH), Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:AACC), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ), C&F  Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CFFI), Middleburg Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:MBRG) and M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO).

 

Heritage Commerce Corp. (Nasdaq:HTBK), Protective Life Corp. (Nasdaq:PL) and PHI Inc. (Nasdaq:PHIIK) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: First Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:FFCH), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Layne Christensen Co. (Nasdaq:LAYN), Terex Corp. (Nasdaq:TEX), Seaspan Corp. (Nasdaq:SSW) and Old Second Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:OSBC).

M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY) and Symyx Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: comScore Inc. (Nasdaq:SCOR), Rockwood Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ROC), Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD), Florida Public Utilities Co. (Nasdaq:FPU), Almost Family Inc. (Nasdaq:AFAM) and Kadant Inc. (Nasdaq:KAI).

A M Castle & Co. (Nasdaq:CAS), Gaylord Entertainment Co. (Nasdaq:GET) and First United Corp Maryland (Nasdaq:FUNC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: SL Green Rlty REIT (Nasdaq:SLG), Helen of Troy Ltd. (Nasdaq:HELE), Imperial Sugar Co. (Nasdaq:IPSU), Dollar Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:DLLR), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO) and West Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:WTBA).

M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Abiomed Inc. (Nasdaq:ABMD) and Corporate Executive Board Co. (Nasdaq:EXBD) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Micrus Endovascular Corp. (Nasdaq:MEND), Life Time Fitness Inc. (Nasdaq:LTM), 99 Cents Only Stores (Nasdaq:NDN), Forrester Research Inc. (Nasdaq:FORR), Harman International Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:HAR) and Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:YAVY).

InterMune Inc. (Nasdaq:ITMN), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and John B  San Filippo & Son (Nasdaq:JBSS) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq:INTX), HSN Inc. (Nasdaq:HSNI), M I Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:MHO), Celldex Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CLDX), Tessera Technologies (Nasdaq:TSRA) and Infinera Corp. (Nasdaq:INFN).

Small-cap stocks stormed higher Tuesday, extending a morning rally when investors got word that the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to the lowest level in history and hinted that they wouldn’t hesitate to utilize other tactics to help jolt the moribund economy out of one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) rose 30.28, or 6.69%, to 482.35, the highest daily close since Nov. 13. For the year, the Russell is still down 37%, while the Dow is off 33% and the S&P 500 is down 38%.

The FOMC stunned the market by slashing rates by 75 to 100 basis points, well beyond the 50-bp cut that was expected. Policy makers also made no bones about their mission right now: save the economy, worry about prices later. In fact, the Fed’s own statement said they would “employ all available tools to promote the resumption of sustainable economic growth and to preserve price stability.” With prices sinking as evidenced by today’s CPI report, the clear goal is economic growth. Now that the Fed is basically handing out money free of charge to those with access to the Fed window, the next order of business would appear to be attacking long-term interest rates, either through direct purchases or other means. The action was bold and stock market investors liked the approach.

It will be interesting to see if the heightened focus on long-term rates will provide a spark to the moribund housing market. Housing starts numbers released this morning tumbled to the lowest rate in history and slumped 18.9% on a seasonally adjusted rate. Despite the gloomy picture of the housing market, homebuilder shares took off today, attracting bottom-fishers on hopes that a light at the end of the tunnel . . .

Small-cap stocks extended the morning slide into midday trading, with financial, tech and homebuilder shares overpowering gains in energy and commodity names. Analyst downgrades for key companies in the financial and technology arenas played a role in magnifying worries about consumer spending and the never-ending credit crisis. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Wachovia Securities (NYSE:MTN), Excel Maritime Carriers (NYSE:EXM) and Teck Cominco (Nasdaq:TCK).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude oil prices were up some $3/barrel into the open, pushing back above the key $50 level ahead of an OPEC meeting later this week.  
• Energy markets were on firm footing this morning, which should provide a lift to energy-related stocks.  
• European shares were basically flat heading into the U.S. open, but Asian markets were in rally mode overnight.  
• Hopes for a quick package to keep U.S. carmakers away from bankruptcy played a big role in overnight gains in Asian trading. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Wachovia Securities upgrades Vail Resorts to "outperform;" shares pop 15%. See (NYSE:MTN).  
• Excel Maritime Carriers up 13% on heavier-than-average volume. See (NYSE:EXM). 
• Teck Cominco up 12% after reporting it will suspend operations at its Pend Oreille zinc mine. See (NYSE:TCK).  
• Sims Metal Management climbs 8% after the small cap signed a 20-year deal with New York City to process the city's recyclables, with a 20-year renewal clause. See (NYSE:SMS).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Developers Diversified Realty says asset deal not closed, will not close in December as it had previously hoped. Shares tumble 15%. See (NYSE:DDR).  
• Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc. announces termination of merger with Huntsman Corp.; shares of HUN collapse 43%. See (NYSE:HUN).
• Real-estate developer Forest City Enterprises is down 12% after saying it will halt new projects, focus on reducing debt and managing existing real-estate portfolio. See (Nasdaq:FCE.A).  
• Fitch downgrades M/I Homes' IDR to 'B'; outlook negative. Shares of MHO are trading over 11% lower. See (NYSE:MHO).  

Small-cap stocks edged lower Tuesday, pulled down by a soft tone in financial shares and a batch of downbeat economic data. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) lost 4.17, or 0.56%, to 736.57, snapping a string of three consecutive higher sessions.

The stock market was unable to recapture the buying enthusiasm that appeared to be in play overnight when stock index derivatives churned higher on yet another media report that the Federal Reserve was not on the brink of raising interest rates. On Monday, it was the Washington Post saying that Fed officials are not ready to hike rates, then The Wall Street Journal reported the same thing today to help drive the point home.

There is a sense right now that financial markets still need low interest rates to gain access to cheap money and that rising rates too soon to fight inflation could cripple any economic recovery. What’s more, we’re heading into an election and unemployment is rising, which hardly makes for an opportune time to raise interest rates.

However, the after-hours upside push from the rate story failed to gain traction during the actual trading session today. Ironically, on a day when Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) released upbeat earnings that topped the estimate, Goldman Sachs analysts downgraded the outlook for banks and said that the credit crisis won’t run its course until 2009. The investment banking firm lowered price targets for 14 banks and many of those banks took a hit today, including Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), which tumbled more than 3%.

In fact, financial shares were among the biggest broad market losers today, with regional banks slipping over 5%, diversified banks down about 3%, thrifts and mortgage finance firms down about 3.8%, consumer finance stocks off 3.7% and multiline insurance stocks down over 3.7%. On the upside, fertilizers, oil . . .

Harris & Harris Group Inc (Nasdaq:TINY), G-III Apparel Group Ltd (Nasdaq:GIII) and Columbia Bancorp (Nasdaq:CBBO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: M I Homes Inc (Nasdaq:MHO), Protherics PLC (Nasdaq:PTIL), Community Valley Bancorp (Nasdaq:CVLL), Vision Sciences Inc (Nasdaq:VSCI), Sterling Financial Corp (Nasdaq:STSA) and VirnetX Holding Corp (Nasdaq:VHC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Shuffle Master Inc (Nasdaq:SHFL), Downey Financial Corp (Nasdaq:DSL) and Talbots Inc (Nasdaq:TLB) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: China Medical Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:CMED), Western Refining Inc (Nasdaq:WNR), AuthenTec Inc (Nasdaq:AUTH), Palm Inc (Nasdaq:PALM), M I Homes Inc (Nasdaq:MHO) and Optical Cable Corp (Nasdaq:OCCF).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the other major U.S. indices are posting declines following more economic and financial news.
 
At 10:26 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had lost 3.08 points, or 0.44%, to 694.35. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was down 36.90 points, or 0.30%, to 12,464.21.

Stocks small and large opened in the red but quickly recovered some of their losses, with the Russell 2000 even briefly visiting positive territory before declining again.

Grabbing the headlines is JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), which reported that fourth-quarter net income declined to below analysts’ expectations due to about $1.3 billion in writedowns for subprime-mortgage investments.

However, revenue outpaced Wall Street’s projections.

The New-York-based banking heavyweight also said that credit card spending slowed in December, a worrying sign that Americans might be cutting back on their spending.

In economic news, the U.S. Labor Department reported before the start of trading that consumer prices rose 0.3% in December. That’s above economists’ projected increase of 0.2% but below November’s 0.8% jump.

However, for all of 2007 inflation has added 4.1%, the highest rate since 1990.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX), Spherion Corp. (NYSE: SFN) and Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HHGP) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers: