Tag - PMTI

Cadiz Inc. (Nasdaq:CDZI), Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (Nasdaq:JTX) and Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:PMTI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American Woodmark Corp. (Nasdaq:AMWD), Greene County Bancorp (Nasdaq:GCBC), Kenexa Corp. (Nasdaq:KNXA), MidWestOne Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:MOFG) and Zoltek Companies Inc. (Nasdaq:ZOLT).

Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:PMTI), Dendreon Corp. (Nasdaq:DNDN) and UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR), PeopleSupport Inc. (Nasdaq:PSPT), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Kohlberg Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:KCAP), Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF) and China Sunergy Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:CSUN).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) futures are lower but have been moving up following mixed economic and financial news.

The bears and the bulls are doing battle in pre-market trading. The bears are reacting to news this morning that Wachovia Corp. (NYSE:WB) swung to a first-quarter loss. The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank will sell common and preferred stock to raise money.

Futures fell but started improving on news before the opening that U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.2% in March, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Economists were expecting sales to stay flat.

The Russell 2000 came under heavy selling pressure Friday, sinking 19.26, or 2.72%, to 688.16. Look for key support Monday at 681, then down at 672. On the upside, resistance is at 696, then at 705 and 712.

This week is full of big economic releases and the Retail Sales data could set the tone for the week ahead. The 10:00 a.m. ET Business Inventories report doesn’t carry the kind of volatility of the Retail Sales release, but could spark a mild bobble in equities.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is unsteady following mixed economic news.

At 10:54 a.m. ET, the small-cap index was down 1.07 points, or 0.16%, to 685.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) had shed 44.45 points, or 0.36%, to 12,221.94.

Factory activity fell to 48.3 in February from 50.7 in January, the Institute for Supply Management reported after the start of trading. Economists were expecting to see a slightly steeper decline. Readings below 50 indicate a contraction.

“The manufacturing sector failed to grow during the month as the PMI fell below 50 percent, which indicates weaker performance in February when compared to January,” said Norman Ore, chair of the ISM’s Business Survey Committee, in a statement. “Manufacturers’ order backlogs continue to erode as the New Orders Index remained below 50 percent for the third consecutive month.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau reported after the opening that construction spending fell more than expected in January. The numbers show a 1.7% decline to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.121 trillion. Private home construction led the way down, falling 3%.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are pointing lower and the small-cap index is poised for a decline.

Small-cap stocks are headed for a bearish opening at the start of a week that will see a number of important economic releases, as well as the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates, which will be announced at the conclusion of a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

The only thing on the docket is a report on new homes sales for December. The U.S. Census Bureau will release the numbers at 10 a.m. ET, with economists expecting to see a decline.

Concerns about the U.S. economy are dominant this morning, with fast food chain operator McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) reporting that sales at restaurants open at least 13 months were unchanged in December, while analysts were expecting a rise.

Similarly, Towson, Md.-based power tool maker The Black & Decker Corp. (NYSE: BDK) forecasted that its first-quarter profit will disappoint analysts.

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq: CWCO), Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: PMTI), Sport Chalet Inc. (Nasdaq: SPCHB) 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:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is posting solid gains as investors react to upbeat news about personal spending and a major corporation. At 2:58 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had climbed 15.72 points, or 2.05%, to 783.26. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 213.14 points, or 1.61%, to 13,458.78.

The bulls are looking strong this afternoon as stocks are buoyed by news of stronger-than-expected personal spending and calming developments at a major financial player.

Personal spending climbed 1.1% in November, the U.S. Commerce Department reported before the start of trading. The increase, the biggest in over three years, calmed fears that Americans will spend less this holiday season due to falling home prices and higher energy costs.

Economists were expecting spending to increase 0.7% after a rise of 0.2% in October.

The same government report showed that personal income in November rose 0.4%, above October’s 0.2% increase. However, economists were forecasting a 0.5% climb.

The numbers tell us that consumers responded favorably to holiday discounts offered by retailers.

In corporate news, there’s speculation that Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) could sell a stake of itself for a $5 billion cash injection from Singapore’s state investment company.

That’s not a surprising move, since many other financial services giants have also sold stakes in order to secure much needed capital to deal with the consequences of the meltdown in the subprime mortgage sector.

Elsewhere, the price of oil has increased $2.29 to $93.35.

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.