Tag - WBMD

Cabela's Inc. (Nasdaq:CAB), Breeze Eastern Corporation (Nasdaq:BZC) and Kindred Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq:KND) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), Maxwell Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:MXWL), Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPI), Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (Nasdaq:RRGB), Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SCMP) and Interline Brands Inc. (Nasdaq:IBI).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) staged an impressive start to the week, closing up 3.88% on Monday. Today’s small-cap gainers are Landrys Restaurants (NYSE:LNY), WebMD (Nasdaq:WBMD) and McMoRan (NYSE:MMR).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Russell is now down 29% for the year, while the Dow is off 30% and the S&P 500 is down 33%.
• Small caps lagged large caps today even on the rally, which is a little bit of concern as the same pattern was evident on the recent collapse.
• Techs lagged throughout the day. If the money to invest in tech is choked off, then the risk appetite for smaller-cap stocks is likely to suffer as well.
• Sectors on the rise today include coal stocks, oil equipment and oil services, oil exploration, oil and gas storage, steel, oil refiners, gas utilities, industrial gases and power products.
• On the downside, broadcast and cable TV stocks were lower, as . . .

Small-cap stocks started out the week with an impressive rally, riding the crest of climbing energy stocks, signs that the credit crisis is on the improve and talk from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that additional fiscal stimulus could be needed. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 20.40, or 3.88% at 546.83. The Russell is now down 29% for the year, while the Dow is off 30% and the S&P 500 is down 33%. Small caps lagged large caps today even on the rally, which is a little bit of concern as the same pattern was evident on the recent collapse.

Crude oil futures climbed 3.3% today as energy traders anticipate OPEC will cut production to counter soft demand and sinking prices. However, while the energy story was the dominant theme today, the move was powered by more than gains in the physical market. Oppenheimer analysts announced upgrades for several stocks in the sector and merger news also played a supportive role, which powered buying in beaten down energy stocks across the market capitalization spectrum. As for the M&A news, NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) received an unsolicited bid of $6 billion from Exelon Corp. (NYSE:EXC) and the firm would not rule taking this hostile status if need be. The general rule of thumb is that if there are deals to be made in the large-cap world, then there are probably even more attractive deals to be found in the small-cap spectrum.

Interestingly, the rally today in crude oil and energy stocks was not a general push for commodities. In fact, the U.S. dollar gained about 0.6% versus the euro, which makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive, and despite the rally in crude oil, the Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 physical markets was basically flat.

The stock market was already on solid footing overnight on news of another steep decline in the inter-bank (or Libor) lending rate, which suggests that frozen credit lines are starting to thaw and that banks are beginning to trust each other . . .

Small-cap stocks remained higher into midday trading, propelled on the opening by climbing energy shares and optimism over another big pullback on inter-bank lending rates. At 12:31 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 6.10, or 1.16%, at 532.53.

An upside surprise on leading indicators data was another supportive element in the mix this morning, but appeared to garner very little market attention. The leading indicators report came in at plus 0.3%, well above the forecast for a dip of 0.2%.

Meanwhile, a morning speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke came and went without too much fanfare, although the market may have found some solace Bernanke’s assertion that frozen credit markets were starting to thaw and that inflation worries have receded.

The big story so far today has been the energy arena following analyst upgrades on several key stocks and some potential merger and acquisition activity. Researchers at Oppenheimer & Co. raised their forecasts on a raft of oil companies, and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up about 5.5% into mid-session. Within the small-cap sphere, PrimeEnergy Corp. (Nasdaq:PNRG) was up about 16% while large-capper NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) gapped higher and jumped some 21% after receiving a takeover off from Exelon Corp. (NYSE:EXC).

Other small caps of note include Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:MDRX), which was up about 17%, trying to recapture huge losses suffered the last couple of weeks. Along the health line of thinking, WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD) was up 22% on news that a merger has been terminated.

Technology shares have been lagging the overall market this morning, and have been a mild drag on small caps amid concerns that spending on technology initiatives is not out of the woods because of the slumping economy around the world. The tech-laden Nasdaq 100 Index was up just 0.8% at midday and key large-cap tech . . .

Quest Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:QELP), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and Landrys Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq:LNY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:TYY), Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG), WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), Allscripts Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:MDRX), PAB Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:PABK) and Primeenergy Corp. (Nasdaq:PNRG).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks opened with a strong bid this morning, boosted by encouraging signs in the bank lending market, a rise in energy stocks on analyst upgrades and a perception that a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was slightly more upbeat than recent appearances. Today’s small-cap gainers are WebMD (NYSE:WBMD), Melco Crown (Nasdaq:MPEL) and McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE:MMR).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• On the downside, broadcast and cable TV stocks were lower, as were life health insurers and leisure product stocks
• Sectors on the rise today include coal stocks, oil equipment and oil services, oil exploration, oil and gas storage, steel, oil refiners, gas utilities, industrial gases and power products.  
• About one-third of the S&P 500 slated to release results this week
• Crude oil futures were up about $1.50 a barrel, providing a lift to energy-sensitive stocks and also to commodities in general.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• McMoRan Exploration Co. jumped some 22% on earnings news. See (NYSE:MMR).  
• Blackrock Ecosolutions Investment Trust is up 19% back to levels last seen in June. See (NYSE:BQR).  
• WebMD surges 30% on shares purchase by HLTH Corp. See (Nasdaq:WBMD).  
• Casino operator Melco Crown reiterated its City of Dreams plan on Friday. Shares are up 24%. See (Nasdaq:MPEL).  

Small Cap Losers:

• General Growth Properties attempts to sell $2 billion in preferred shares to private-equity firms to lower its debt, WSJ says. Shares are down 13%.  See (NYSE:GGP).
• HLTH Corp. plunges after announcement to terminate merger with WebMD. Shares are down 13%. See (Nasdaq:HLTH).  
• AMAG Pharma down 8% after FDA requests additional data for marketing approval for anemia drug in kidney disease patients. See (Nasdaq:AMAG).
• Syneron Medical slips 12% after the company warns for lower revenues in Q3. See (Nasdaq:ELOS).

InfoSpace Inc (Nasdaq:INSP), Cavium Networks Inc (Nasdaq:CAVM) and Greenfield Online Inc (Nasdaq:SRVY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Albany Molecular Research Inc (Nasdaq:AMRI), WebMD Health Corp (Nasdaq:WBMD), Amerigon Inc (Nasdaq:ARGN), United Community Bancorp (Nasdaq:UCBA), Transact Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:TACT) and Bon-Ton Stores Inc (Nasdaq:BONT).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $50 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc.(Nasdaq:SIRT), up 82% on news that it will be acquired by GlaxoSmithKline for $720 million.

• Green Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:GRNB), up 14% on news that the bank reported first-quarter results that substantially beat the Street.

• China Finance Online Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq:JRJC), up 2%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Wavecom S.A. (Nasdaq:WVCM) down 17%, on news that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter, while revenue declined 21%.

• Innovative Solutions & Support Inc. (Nasdaq:ISSC), down 14% on disappointing second-quarter results that clocked in below the Street.

• WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), down 8%, on lowered guidance for 2008.

Genesis Lease Ltd. (NYSE:GLS), Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMPI) and Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT) were among the new 52-week lows established during Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), Shanghai Century Acquisition Corp. (AMEX:SHA) and Merrimac Industries (AMEX:MRM) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

Triad Guaranty Inc. (Nasdaq: TGIC), WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD) and ACA Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ACA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage losers:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are higher and the small-cap index will probably open in the green on news of strong earnings.

The bulls are poised this morning following news of better-than-expected earnings from the tech sector.

Search engine Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) got the ball rolling after the close on Tuesday when the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company reported third-quarter net income that outpaced Wall Street’s projections.

This morning Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) also beat analysts’ third-quarter forecasts, while United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) announced that its net income increased 20% due to strong demand across the board and revenue rose 14%. Wall Street was expecting more modest gains.

However, holding the bulls down is news that September U.S. housing starts fell to the lowest rate in 14 years.

The Census Bureau reported that builders broke ground on 1.191 million units at an annualized pace in September, well below the 1.285 million units expected by economists. Housing starts were an upwardly revised 1.327 million in August.

In other economic news, the U.S. Labor Department reported that the consumer price index, the main measure of inflation, grew 0.3% in September, following a fall of 0.1% in August. Economists were expecting a slightly lower reading of 0.2%. Core inflation, which excludes the cost of food and energy, was 0.2%, in line with economists’ forecast.