Tag - SIG

Green Bankshares Inc (Nasdaq:GRNB), Trex Co Inc. (Nasdaq:TWP) and Signet Group PLC (Nasdaq:SIG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Omega Flex Inc. (Nasdaq:OFLX), E House China Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:EJ), East West Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EWBC), TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI), First M&F Corp. (Nasdaq:FMFC) and Consolidated Water Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:CWCO).

ICT Group Inc (Nasdaq:ICTG), SI Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:SIFI) and Omniture Inc (Nasdaq:OMTR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AnnTaylor Stores Corp (Nasdaq:ANN), Volt Information Sciences Inc (Nasdaq:VOL), Westwood Holdings Group Inc (Nasdaq:WHG), Signet Jewelers (Nasdaq:SIG), Brooks Automation Inc (Nasdaq:BRKS) and DineEquity Inc (Nasdaq:DIN).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) rose higher at closing, outpacing many large-cap indices that slumped on weak financial and energy stocks. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Integrated Electrical Services (Nasdaq:IESC), Blyth (NYSE:BTH) and Volt Information (NYSE:VOL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The personal income data came in at minus 0.2%, which was slightly below the forecast for a decline of 0.3%.
• For the year, personal income was up 3.7%, which marked the smallest rise since 2003. 
• The ISM Manufacturing Survey came in at 35.6, which was a little better than the projection of 33, but still historically low.
• For the year, the Russell is down 9.9%, while the Dow is off 9.5% and the S&P 500 is down 8.6%.
• The tech-laden Nasdaq 100 advanced 1.3% on the day, with semiconductor stocks, systems software manufacturers and telecoms leading the way.
• It was interesting to see small caps diverge away from energy stocks today, as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund fell 1.6%.
• More often than not, small caps tend to track energy trends fairly closely, partly because of all the small-cap energy firms in play.
• The U.S. dollar started out the day higher against the euro, but gave back those gains by the close. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Integrated Electrical Services Inc. jumped 26% ahead of earnings news slated to come after Monday’s close. See (Nasdaq:IESC).
• Blyth Inc. staged an impressive bullish key reversal by making new lows for the move then storming higher on unusually brisk volume. The home fragrance . . .

Central European Distribution Corp. (Nasdaq:CEDC), Signet Jewelers (Nasdaq:SIG) and Astoria Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:AF) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Alliance Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ALNC), WSFS Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WSFS), Methanex Corp. (Nasdaq:MEOH), Penn Virginia Corp. (Nasdaq:PVA), United Natural Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:UNFI) and First Busey Corp. (Nasdaq:BUSE).

Small-cap stocks turned higher in choppy trade into midday, with pressure from soft energy and financial shares countered by gains in retail and technology stocks. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Blyth Inc. (NYSE:BTH), Volt Information Science Inc. (NYSE:VOL) and Preformed Line Products Co. (Nasdaq:PLPC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Energy stocks were among the worst performers so far today, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund off 2%.  
• The yield on benchmark 10-year notes, which moves inverse to price, was down 2.6% as demand was solid for credit instruments.  
• Treasury markets continued to rise through mid-session trading, which may have siphoned some money away from equities.   
• Small caps turned higher in choppy trade into midday, with pressure from soft energy and financial shares countered by gains in retail and technology stocks.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Blyth Inc. jumped 29% on unusually heavy volume, recovering nicely from news lows set late last week after the home fragrance and home décor firm announced a reverse stock split. See (NYSE:BTH).  
• Volt Information Science Inc. rose 21% recovering from a wild up and down session Friday in conjunction with earnings news. See (NYSE:VOL). 
• Preformed Line Products Co. was up 18% without any apparent fresh news, as the network line maintenance company mounted a big bounce off move lows forged last week. See (Nasdaq:PLPC).  
• Inter Parfums Inc. was up 7.4% after a rocky few days of trading surrounding earnings results from late January. See (Nasdaq:IPAR). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Las Vegas Sands Corp. tumbles 12% after naming Bradley Stone as president of global operations and construction See (NYSE:LVS).  
• Signet Jewelers Ltd. tumbled 14% as the specialty jewelry retailer fell to new 52-week lows. See (NYSE:SIG). 

Small-cap stocks turned higher in choppy trade into midday, with pressure from soft energy and financial shares countered by gains in retail and technology stocks. At 12:39 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 2.96, or 0.67%, at 446.48.

Treasury markets continued to rise through mid-session trading, which may have siphoned some money away from equities. The yield on benchmark 10-year notes, which moves inverse to price, was down 2.6% as demand was solid for credit instruments.

Energy stocks were among the worst performers so far today, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund off 2% as crude oil prices edged lower amid concern about demand from not just the United States, but also major energy customers around the world.

Looking at S&P groups so far today, the best performers were health care, food distributors, systems software firms, department stores, Internet retail, Internet software services, semiconductor companies and homebuilders. After a rough go in recent days, the ISE Homebuilder Index was up about 1.4% at midday with small-cap homebuilder Meritage Homes Corp. (NYSE:MTH) up 5.8%.

Small-cap retailers making positive noise today included Inter Parfums Inc. (Nasdaq:IPAR), as the cosmetics firm was up 7.4% after a rocky few days of trading surrounding earnings results from late January.

Some negative sentiment continues to be attached to concerns that progress on the “bad bank” concept appears to have stalled and also by worries that passage of a big stimulus package could take longer than originally expected.

Individual small caps making a move today include Blyth Inc. (NYSE:BTH), which jumped 29% on unusually heavy volume, recovering nicely from news lows set late last week after the home fragrance and home décor firm announced a reverse stock split. Volt Information Science Inc. (NYSE:VOL) rose 21% recovering from a wild up and down session Friday in conjunction with earnings news. Preformed Line Products Co. (Nasdaq:PLPC) was up 18% without any apparent fresh news, as the network line maintenance company mounted a big bounce off move lows forged last . . .

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), DSP Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DSPG) and Signet Jewelers Ord Shs (Nasdaq:SIG) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Bank of Kentucky Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:BKYF), Magal Security Systems (Nasdaq:MAGS), Piper Jaffray Companies (Nasdaq:PJC), WSFS Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WSFS), Todd Shipyards Corp. (Nasdaq:TOD) and CPI International Inc. (Nasdaq:CPII).

First South Bancorp Inc.  (Nasdaq:FSBK), Dime Community Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:DCOM) and CorVel Corp. (Nasdaq:CRVL) are among the new 52-week lows in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Affymax Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFY), Signet Jewelers  (Nasdaq:SIG), Enterprise Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTC), City Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:CHCO), Myers Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:MYE) and Stewardship Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:SSFN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Tire and rubber, coal, homebuilding, metal and mining and even hotel stocks were attracting buyers so far today.   Nov 26, 2008 12:58pm
• Office electronics were up, and so were construction-themed companies.   Nov 26, 2008 12:58pm
• Looking at sector activity, automobile manufacturers were on a roll today, with General Motors Corp. up 31%.   Nov 26, 2008 12:57pm
• The market seemed willing to cast aside a batch of mostly awful economic data from this morning as no surprise.

Small Cap Gainers:

• ATP Oil & Gas Corporation jumped 30% as the offshore oil and gas firm tried to mount a lasting rally after setting long-term lows last week. See (Nasdaq:ATPG).
• Orient Express Hotels Ltd. rallied 27% as the luxury hotelier and travel company appeared to attract bargain hunters in the hotel group. See (NYSE:OEH).  
• American Axle & Manufacturing up 24% after declaring a Q4 dividend earlier this week. See (NYSE:AXL).  
• SeaChange International Inc. is up 23% as the video-on-demand software firm benefited from an earnings-related boost. See (Nasdaq:SEAC).

Small Cap Losers:

• Safe Bulkers drops another 15% today on light volume. See (NYSE:SB).  
• Arbor Realty Trust down 15% on lower-than-average volume, hovering above a 52-week low of $1.77. See (NYSE:ABR). 
• Signet Jewelers reports disappointing Q3 09 results; shares dive 11%. See (NYSE:SIG).  
• J. Crew Group shares fall 7% on weak outlook. See (NYSE:JCG).  

Andersons Inc. (Nasdaq:ANDE), CNB Financial Corp.  (Nasdaq:CCNE) and Blue Coat Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:BCSI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Signet Jewelers  (Nasdaq:SIG), J Crew Group Inc. (Nasdaq:JCG), Thomas & Betts Corp. (Nasdaq:TNB), Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF), Capitol Bancorp Ltd. (Nasdaq:CBC) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX).