Tag - SSRI

Hot Topic, Inc (Nasdaq:HOTT), Central European Media Enterprises Ltd (Nasdaq:CETV) and Diamond Foods Inc (Nasdaq:DMND) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: AeroVironment Inc (Nasdaq:AVAV), ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (Nasdaq:ATPG), II VI Inc (Nasdaq:IIVI), Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:QCOR), ViroPharma Inc (Nasdaq:VPHM) and Silver Standard Resources Inc (Nasdaq:SSRI).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OMRI) and James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:PGNX), Verigy Ltd. (Nasdaq:VRGY), OmniVision Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:OVTI), Telvent GIT (Nasdaq:TLVT) and Fred's Inc. (Nasdaq:FRED).

Small-cap stocks stormed out of negative territory late in the day, avoiding what looked like a sixth consecutive losing session when an oversold, thin market caught a bid in conjunction with news on the Obama leadership team. Despite the upbeat late rally, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) still tumbled to fresh bear market lows earlier in the day and closed out the week at the lowest point since April 2003. For today, small caps were up 21.22, or 5.51%, to 406.53, but are still down 47% for the year. Large-cap stocks fared better today, with the Dow up 6.54% and the S&P 500 up 6.32%. For 2008, the Dow is off 39% and the S&P 500 is down 45%.

And even though large caps outperformed small caps today, it’s not all wine and roses for big companies either. On Thursday, the S&P 500 tumbled to 11-year lows and a string of huge, name-brand companies continue to shrivel in front of our eyes. This week, the hammer came down on Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) as what used to be world’s largest bank (currently No. 2 U.S. bank) saw its stock collapse 19% today and some 70% in just the month of November. There were reports that Citigroup executives were considering selling off some business units, or perhaps the entire bank.

The market rallied into positive territory late in the day on news that Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, was tabbed by President-elect Obama as the new Treasury Secretary. Obama is expected to announce his economic advisory staff early next week, which could soothe rattled investors. The New York Times also reported that Obama’s election rival Hillary Clinton would accept his nomination to the Secretary of State post.

From a charting perspective, it’s important to note that the market is oversold on momentum readings heading toward a holiday week, which could have played a supportive role in today’s action. In addition, there was some talk that options expiration activity today also could have been a supportive influence. Either way, the market will still need to confirm today’s upside push over a longer time frame, on solid volume and with bullish chart patterns to suggest that any kind of noteworthy bottom is in play. Looking ahead to next week’s action, the market will likely . . .

Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS), John Bean Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:JBT) and USG Corp. (Nasdaq:USG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: IXYS Corp. (Nasdaq:IXYS), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Parkvale Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:PVSA), McMoRan Exploration Co. (Nasdaq:MMR) and ASA Ltd. (Nasdaq:ASA).

Small caps remained lower into midday trading, unable to draft off support from moderate gains in large caps as investors still have risk aversion on their mind. Energy stocks were providing a lift to large caps, but financial shares were struggling, pulling down lots of small banks in the small-cap universe. Today’s small-cap gainers are Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Exterran Partners (Nasdaq:EXLP) and Deltek (Nasdaq:PROJ).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Financial Select Sector SPDR was down 4.3% at midday.  
• Financial shares remain a big drag on the market, with Citigroup Inc. extending the freefall.  
• Small caps remained lower into midday trading, unable to draft off support from moderate gains in large caps.  
• Researchers at Goldman Sachs today said that the upcoming November employment report will be the worst yet for 2008. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Gold and silver companies dominated the top percentage gainers on the Nasdaq; Silver Standard Resources Inc. is rising 18%. See (Nasdaq:SSRI).   
• Exterran Partners is up 18% on light volume as energy-related stocks are on the rise today. See (Nasdaq:EXLP).  
• Deltek up 15% today following SC&H Group's announcement earlier this week of a business partnership with the small cap. See (Nasdaq:PROJ).
• China Sky One Medical is up 7% on light volume following news this week that the small cap obtained production rights for nine new drugs. See (Nasdaq:CSKI). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Buckeye shares fall 26% after BGH terminates tender offer. See (NYSE:BGH).  
• Shares of Media General are down another 26% today following news Thursday that Harbinger Capital sold stock in the newspaper publisher. See (NYSE:MEG).
• Collective Brands Inc. is off 25% as the holding company for Payless Shoes and Stride Rite plunged to fresh 52-week lows See (NYSE:PSS).  
• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. is down 23% as the casual dining restaurant chain also made new move lows. See (Nasdaq:RRGB).  

Small caps remained lower into midday trading, unable to draft off support from moderate gains in large caps as investors still have risk aversion on their mind. Energy stocks were providing a lift to large caps, but financial shares were struggling, pulling down lots of small banks in the small-cap universe. At 12:39 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 2.87, or 0.75%, at 382.43, but up 11 handles from the new bear market lows set earlier in the day.

There was a giant snap-back in Treasury yields today, driven by ideas Thursday’s panic rise in yields was overdone and by some desire to bargain hunt for big-cap energy stocks. The yield on the long-bond was up more than 8% at mid-session, which is a startling one-day move. There was also some thought that buying interest in large caps was driven by options expirations and fewer small caps see significant options activity. However, the general notion is that options expirations tend to mirror dominant trends for the expiration period, and there is no doubt that stocks have been headed sharply lower ahead of today’s expirations.

Financial shares remain a big drag on the market, with Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) extending the freefall. C shares were down 12% at midday and are off a stunning 70% during the month of November. JP Morgan Chase and Co. (NYSE:JPM) was down 11% and JPM shares have been sliced in half since Nov. 5. The Financial Select Sector SPDR was down 4.3% at midday.

Energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) was up 2.5% and providing a major lift to the Dow, but the rise in big-cap oil didn’t seem to have as much of an influence on small-cap commodity firms today — or at least not enough to counter sinking financials and a batch of soft profit reports.

Individual small caps on the decline today were dominated by small financial firms, outside of that arena Collective Brands Inc. (NYSE:PSS) was off 25% as the holding company for Payless Shoes and Stride Rite plunged to fresh 52-week lows. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (Nasdaq:RRGB) was down 23% as the casual . . .

Small-cap stocks turned lower into midday trading, pulled down by worries about the economy, sinking REITS, soft financial stocks and concern that a big stimulus plan announced by China overnight might not be enough to jolt worldwide economic conditions out of the doldrums. Today’s small-cap gainers are AIG (NYSE:AFF), General Steel Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GSI) and Scopus Video Networks (Nasdaq:SCOP).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• S&P's: U.S. REITS may face more negative rating actions; struggling capital markets, awful real estate fundamentals also threaten REITS.  
• Energy traders continue to be ultra sensitive to declines in equities, fearing a troubled economy will squash demand.  
• Coal, agriculture products, aluminum, gold, metals and mining stocks and oil and gas drillers are top performers today.  
• The Russell was the first major index product to slip into the red, beating the Dow and S&P 500 into negative territory by about an hour.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• U.S. plans more aid for AIG; shares up 62%. See (NYSE:AFF).  
• General Steel Holdings Inc. rallied 21% ahead of its earnings release on Friday. See (NYSE:GSI).  
• Scopus Video Networks announces record Q3 2008 results; shares flying 15% higher. See (Nasdaq:SCOP).
• Top executives to buy back shares of VisionChina Media; shares up 15% in morning trading. See (Nasdaq:VISN).  
• Silver Standard last week turned to profit in Q3; shares up 15% today, rising on a commodities boost seen in the market. See (Nasdaq:SSRI)


Small Cap Losers:

• Southwest Water Company slipped 21% after announcing a delay in filings and a postponement on a conference call. See (Nasdaq:SWWC).  
• General Growth Properties down nearly 20% after a myriad of class-action lawsuits were announced against the REIT over the weekend. See (NYSE:GGP).  
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Q3 profit declines; shares slump 18%. See (NYSE:CCO).  
• Newcastle Investment Corp. clocked a Q3 loss on Friday; shares are 17% lower today. See (NYSE:NCT).

General Steel Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:GSI), Delta Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq:DPTR) and Logility Inc. (Nasdaq:LGTY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Pike Electric Corp. (Nasdaq:PEC), VisionChina Media Inc. (Nasdaq:VISN), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Young Innovations Inc. (Nasdaq:YDNT), TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI) and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks extended the morning rally into midday action, boosted by gains in commodity and financial stocks and some relief that the end was in sight for the political uncertainty surrounding elections in the United States. Today’s small-cap gainers are Safe Bulkers Inc. (NYSE:SB), Carrizo Oil and Gas Inc. (Nasdaq:CRZO) and Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Big commodity gainers today are gold, copper and corn,
• Commodity stocks in general were lifted today by a sizable drop in the U.S. dollar, which tumbled some 2.8% against the euro, making goods priced in dollars more attractive.
•  The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up 6% and crude oil prices shot 8% higher on reports that Saudi Arabia slashed output.  
• Commodity shares were on a roll today, with agriculture products, metal and mining stacks, coal and gold all seeing sizable gains.  
• Although the market initially pulled back on the dreary factory orders report, the rally quickly resumed and stretched out through mid-session.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Safe Bulkers Inc. continued to be a hot stock as the marine transporter jumped 31% after being one of the biggest small-cap movers on Monday. See (NYSE:SB).  
• Carrizo Oil and Gas Inc. rallied 22% on news of a joint venture to pursue growth in Marcellus Shale. See (Nasdaq:CRZO).  
• Silver Standard Resources Inc. jumped 21% along with the resurgence in commodities. See (Nasdaq:SSRI).  
• Bruker Corp. is up 16% after reporting Q3 results on Monday. See (Nasdaq:BRKR).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Animal Health International Inc. gapped lower and tumbled 57% on unusually heavy volume amid earnings news. See (Nasdaq:ANII).  
• Kenexa Corp. down 28% as the employment search firm reported earnings, CEO says that the “business environment deteriorated” toward end of quarter with difficult economic climate. See (Nasdaq:KNXA).  
• Herbalife tops with Q3 EPS but misses with sales and guides below Street; shares down 16% in pre-market. See (NYSE:HLF).  
• Coldwater Creek falls 6% in after hours. Expects Q3 loss, pulls Q4 guidance. See (Nasdaq:CWTR).

Small-cap stocks extended the morning rally into midday action, boosted by gains in commodity and financial stocks and some relief that the end was in sight for the political uncertainty surrounding elections in the United States. At 12:32 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 7.10, or 1.32%, at 545.60.

Even another downbeat reading on manufacturing activity today didn’t stall buying enthusiasm. Just a day after the ISM Manufacturing Survey came in at 38.9% -- well below the 50% contraction line -- today’s factory orders data came in at minus 2.5%, below the forecast for a drop of 1.5%. Although the market initially pulled back on the factory orders report, the rally quickly resumed and stretched out through mid-session.

Commodity shares were on a roll today, with agriculture products, metal and mining stocks, coal and gold all seeing sizable gains. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up 6% and crude oil prices shot 8% higher on reports that Saudi Arabia slashed output. Commodity stocks in general were lifted today by a sizable drop in the U.S. dollar, which tumbled some 2.8%, or more than 350 basis point against the euro, which makes goods priced in dollar terms more attractive. Among the big gainers were gold, copper and corn.

Soybean processor Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE:ADM) jumped 17% on solid earnings, and other large-cap names getting an earnings lift today included MasterCard Inc. (NYSE:MA), which jumped 14% and lifted rival firm American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) along for the ride, with AXP up about 5%.

Economic bellwether stock General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) rose 8% . . .

JDS Uniphase Corp. (Nasdaq:JDSU), Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF) and Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq:CLNE), Hercules Offshore Inc. (Nasdaq:HERO), Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:HA), Bruker Corp. (Nasdaq:BRKR), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI) and American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq:AGNC).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Small caps closed up nearly 2%, embracing the Fed’s rate cut, a thaw in credit markets and a bounce in commodity-tied stocks. Today’s small-cap gainers are Savient Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SVNT), Savvis (Nasdaq:SVVS) and Hercules Offshore (Nasdaq:HERO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The rate cut by the Fed coincides with global easing; just last night, central bank officials in China cut rates by 0.27% and European leaders hinted that further rate cuts are possible. 
• It’s possible that the bulls were corralled a little bit today, leery to take a big bullish stand ahead of Thursday’s GDP report.
• Commodities were a key part of the story today, which may explain some of the relative strength in small caps, which have shown a tendency to more closely track commodity trends in recent weeks.
• Crude oil prices jumped some 9%, or more than $5 a barrel, bolstered by oversold conditions and a slide in the U.S. dollar, which tumbled some 1.4% against the euro.
• Copper has soared some 14%, which is particularly interesting because copper is often seen as a proxy for economic activity around the globe. Copper has collapsed in recent weeks, but a stabilization in that market would be a positive sign for the global economy.

Small Cap Gainers:

• BioMimetic Therapeutics reports promising clinical results using injectable bone graft. Shares close up 21%. See (Nasdaq:BMTI).  
• Tessera Technologies shares surged 30% after arbitration ruling. See (Nasdaq:TSRA).  
• Savient Pharmaceuticals announces data in treatment-failure gout . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up nearly 2% on Wednesday, embracing signs of a thaw in credit markets, another rate cut by Federal Reserve officials, a bounce in commodity-tied stocks and another rise in global equity prices.

The Federal Open Market Committee elected to slash 50 basis points off the Fed funds target, which was right in line with market expectations. The immediate reaction from stocks was a mild slide off the highs, but the move was relatively tame, especially within the context of recent volatile swings. Small caps were able to hold in positive territory immediately after the rate cut, outperforming large caps in a switch from the trends we’ve seen in recent weeks.

The rate cut by the Fed coincides with global easing; just last night, central bank officials in China cut rates by 0.27% and European leaders hinted that further rate cuts could be right around the corner. Even in Japan, where low rates have persisted forever, central bankers are expected to cut rates.

That environment of cheaper money is seen as supportive to businesses and helped spark a rally in overseas equities. Japan shares were higher for the second consecutive session, trying to bounce after hitting 26-year lows on Monday.

It’s possible that the bulls were corralled a little bit today, leery to take a big bullish stand ahead of Thursday’s GDP report, which is widely expected to show the nation’s economy slipping into negative territory, consistent with a recession.

Also on the data front, earlier today the durable goods report came in at plus 0.8%, which was better than the forecast for a decline of 1.1%. Durable goods orders tend to be volatile, so the market wasn’t that eager to make too big a deal of the surprising strength. In addition, before the market opened, the MBA Mortgage Application Index jumped 16.8%, recovering nicely after hitting eight-year lows last week. Still, the index remains mired nearly multi-year lows and is down 30% from year-ago . . .

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Hercules Offshore Inc. (Nasdaq:HERO) and Tessera Technologies (Nasdaq:TSRA) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ), Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS), ViroPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:VPHM), AeroVironment Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAV) and Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (Nasdaq:BWLD).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

Hansen Medical Inc. (Nasdaq:HNSN), Heritage Commerce Corp. (Nasdaq:HTBK) and Insituform Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:INSU) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: IPC Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:IPCR), Align Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:ALGN), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BBX), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC) and Auburn National Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:AUBN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Developers Diversified Realty REIT (Nasdaq:DDR), Telecom Argentina ADR (Nasdaq:TEO) and Kindred Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq:KND) are among the new 52-week lows in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPI), Federal Mogul Corp. (Nasdaq:FDML), Dillard's Inc. (Nasdaq:DDS), Banco Macro SA (Nasdaq:BMA), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI) and Hiveld Steel Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:HSVLY).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

During midday trading, the Russell 2000 is one of few indices in the green, up 0.77%, however trading remains volatile, with the market popping back off a 3% mid-morning slide fairly quickly. Today’s small-cap gainers are Encore Acquisiton (NYSE:EAC), Targanta Therapeutics (Nasdaq:TARG) and China TechFaith (Nasdaq:CNTF). Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The industrial production report released this morning pegged output down 2.8%; the forecast was for -0.8%.
• The best performing areas today are coal, education services, agriculture products, footwear companies, food retail firms, airlines, gas utilities and steel stocks. 
• On the downside, life health insurers, gold, paper products, auto manufacturers, asset mngt. firms, and Internet retail stocks were all taking a hit. 
• Crude oil extends slide after inventory data, dips below $70.
• The credit crisis is forcing many European firms valued at >$1.5B to end their publicly traded status, Bloomberg reports.
• The CBOE Volatility Index (a good indicator of the level of fear in the markets) hits a record high.
• The market continues to slide after the Philly Fed diffusion index fell to -37.5 in Oct. from +3.8 in Sept., its largest 1-month decline ever. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG) is up 49% on light volume, bouncing off a test of move lows.
• Encore Acquisition (NYSE:EAC) jumps 24% on Q3 operating results and authorization for the repurchase of an additional $40 million in stock.
• Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:MIPI) is up 21%, basically trying to recover losses from Wednesday’s big decline.
• Deltek Inc. (Nasdaq:PROJ) announced preliminary results. Shares . . .

Small-cap stocks resumed the slide into the midday time frame, unable to sustain a morning bounce as recession fears were rekindled by dour manufacturing data. At 11:44 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 3.66, or 0.73%, at 498.45 at the lowest point since last Friday’s erosion to five-year lows. However, trading remains volatile, with the market popping back off a 3% mid-morning slide fairly quickly.

In what has become a familiar refrain lately, the Russell started out the day in positive territory and rallied to a gain of 3.2% shortly after the opening as employment and inflation indicators came in tame. However, when the industrial production report showed manufacturing activity posted the largest decline in nearly 34 years the market started to fray at the edges, but was still in positive territory. However, even if investors were willing to shrug off the output data due to quirks like Hurricane Gustav and a strike at aircraft maker Boeing, the 10:00 a.m. ET release of the Philly Fed survey (which is an October number) was the lowest figure in some 18 years and investors gave up the fight.

The market continues to fret about the possibility for a deep recession in the United States and a slowdown around the world, which would damage profits for both domestic and export-related businesses. And even though today’s unemployment claims report was not as bad as feared (461,000 versus the 470,000 forecast), it is still a historically large number of people filing for unemployment insurance and the number of people on the unemployment line only stands to get worse in coming months. While analysts argue that employment will lag the recovery in stocks and the overall economy, it’s still uncomfortable to get in front of that trend at this stage of the market dynamic.

Looking at sector action today, the best performing areas were coal, education services, agriculture products, footwear companies, food retail firms, airlines, gas utilities and steel stocks. On the downside, life health insurers were getting . . .