Tag - Amfi

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (Nasdaq:SRZ) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI), Independence Holding Co. (Nasdaq:IHC), Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC), Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN), Amcore Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) and Interoil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

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 . . .

Spherion Corp (Nasdaq:SFN), Image Sensing Systems Inc (Nasdaq:ISNS) and Amcore Financial Inc (Nasdaq:AMFI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: TomoTherapy Inc (Nasdaq:TOMO), HireRight Inc (Nasdaq:HIRE), Pantry Inc (Nasdaq:PTRY), Community Capital Corp (Nasdaq:CPBK), Gateway Financial Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:GBTS) and Nelnet Inc (Nasdaq:NNI).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Intervest Bancshares Corp (Nasdaq:IBCA), CompuCredit Corp (Nasdaq:CCRT) and FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Synchronoss Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:SNCR), Downey Financial Corp (Nasdaq:DSL), Amcore Financial Inc (Nasdaq:AMFI), Gaiam Inc (Nasdaq:GAIA), Rainier Pacific Financial Group (Nasdaq:RPFG) and General Finance Corp (Nasdaq:GFN).

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

Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMCL), Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRBC) and AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) were among the new 52-week lows established during Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

Insight Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT), Ambassadors International, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMIE) and Lee Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:LEE) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

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

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) took a hit Tuesday, tumbling 14.29, or 1.99%, to 703.71. Through much of the afternoon the index was flirting with losses beyond 2.5%, which has only happened eight times this year. Small caps bore the brunt of investor disdain, dropping more than one percentage point in excess of the Dow or S&P 500.

The sharp decline in small-cap versus large-cap issues was fueled by several factors, including concerns that small-cap banks will struggle even more so than large-cap banks through this credit crunch, as large banks have an easier time raising capital, said Nick Kalivas, vice president of financial research with MF Global, in an email.

In addition, Kalivas said that a weak dollar was positive for large caps over small caps because the larger companies tend to have more exposure to overseas customers, and a weak dollar makes their goods more attractively priced to foreign customers.

Furthermore, Kalivas said that earnings within the small-cap sector suffered relative to large caps. “Big losses were seen in AXE, OMCL and ASTE, which hurt small . . .

Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMCL), Protherics PLC (Nasdaq:PTIL) and The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE:TLB) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:VNUS), Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:PTEC) and AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Tuesday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Here are the day’s biggest percentage gainers and losers, along with top volume leaders, among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:


• Fuqi International, Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI), up 19% to $7.25 on news of an improved first-quarter and full-year 2008 guidance.
• Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASPM), up 19% to $6.52 on news it expects second-quarter earnings above Wall Street’s projections.
• Metalico Inc. (AMEX:MEA), up 18% to $14.15.


• AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI), down 30% to $13.71 on news of a first-quarter loss.
• Epicor Software Corp. (Nasdaq:EPIC), down 27% to $7.85 on news it projects first-quarter earnings below analysts’ consensus.
• Alto Palermo S.A. (Nasdaq:APSA), down 15% to $14.25.

Small-cap stocks opened lower and traded in a fairly narrow range during the rest of today’s session, trimming losses off the lows, but never catching up with a tame rise in the Dow and S&P 500. In the end, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) tumbled 5.39, or 0.76%, to 708.00, but an inside session dip for the small-cap index in the shadow of Wednesday’s big rise wasn’t all that unsettling.

However, if it all feels like a familiar refrain, you’re right. The Russell 2000 has now had five 3% one-day gains so far this year, and has now closed lower four times and was flat in the other instance. In essence, the market has been unable to sustain momentum off big rally days as investors are unwilling to take a stand that the worst is over for stocks. When the stock market starts to fly, investors are more willing to buy into strength and fund managers will scramble to catch up with the market. For now, the inability to sustain rallies suggests that the market is still burdened by caution. In the long haul, creating a “wall of worry” isn’t necessarily a bad thing when stocks are trying a build a foundation low, but it can create volatility, uncertainty and rollercoaster-price moves along the way.

Economic news today was less embraced by investors than what we saw during Wednesday’s big upside push. The most dynamic report came from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, as their survey on manufacturing activity in the area came in down 24.9%, well below the market forecast which was in the minus 15 to . . .

Epicor Software Corp. (Nasdaq:EPIC), Amcore Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) and Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (AMEX:CQP) were among the new 52-week lows established during Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

Briggs & Stratton Corp. (NYSE:BGG), Citizens First Corp. (Nasdaq:CZFC) and Mac-Gray Corp. (NYSE:TUC) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

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

Amcore Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI), Epicor Software Corp. (Nasdaq:EPIC) and Alto Palermo S.A. (Nasdaq:APSA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (AMEX:CQP), SureWest Communications (Nasdaq:SURW) and Carolina Trust Bank (Nasdaq:CART) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Thursday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) stumbled on the opening, unable to extend the big rally from Wednesday’s action. At 10:05 a.m. ET, the Russell was down 7.60, or 1.06%, at 705.79 as a profit-taking mentality from those who caught the rise Wednesday dominated early action.

As the market progresses today, it will be important for the Russell to find support above the old swingline at 700. If the selling pressure begins to intensify, 695 is the next support zone to watch. Any move back into the green would be an important show of resilience as the market has been unable to sustain upside momentum after 3% rally days so far this year.

The market remained under pressure after the Philly Fed survey, which came out at 10:00 a.m. ET, was down 24.9%, quite a bit worse than the market forecast of a 15% loss. The sobering Philly Fed numbers overshadowed the Leading Indicators report, which rose 0.1%, in line with expectations.

Ahead of this morning’s opening, the Weekly Claims report was relatively close to the forecast, and quickly fell off traders’ radar screens, especially ahead of the Philly Fed and Leading Indicator reports.

With crude oil tipping the scales at fresh record highs this morning near $115 dollars a barrel and gasoline pump prices climbing before we’ve even reached . . .

Shares of Amcore Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) are getting pummeled today after the regional bank said this morning that it recorded a net loss for the first quarter, down from a net profit in the year ago quarter. Wall Street was expecting a net profit and higher revenues.

The Illinois-based bank attributed the earnings collapse to a proliferating portfolio of non-performing loans, as builders, developers and broader commercial real estate weakened.

Shares crumbled 22.5%, or $4.38, to $15.07 at 10:17 a.m. ET. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Amcore Financial, click AMFI. 

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:


• AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAN), up 32% on news it has licensed one of its vaccines to Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE).
• Fuqi International, Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI), up 20%.
• Avocent Corp. (Nasdaq:AVCT), up 16%


• Epicor Software Corp. (Nasdaq:EPIC), down 14% on news it has lowered its full-year earnings and revenue outlook.
• ViroPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:VPHM), down 6% on news it has stopped developing a hepatitis C drug.
• AMCORE Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI), down 5% on news of a first-quarter loss.

Amcore Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMFI) are down after the bank holding company reported an 84% plunge in third-quarter net income—falling to $1.9 million, or $0.08 per share, far below analyst expectations of $0.47 per share and compared with $12.5 million, or $0.51 per share, a year earlier. The Rockford, Ill.-based company said rising loan-loss provisions and expenses related to mortgage-backed bonds caused the income decline.

The firm recorded a $5.6 million impairment loss on the $205 million sale of mortgage-backed bonds from its investment portfolio.

"The sale of the bonds relates to a balance sheet restructuring that reduces longer-term interest rate and liquidity risk in our investment portfolio," CEO Kenneth Edge said in a statement. "By addressing this issue at this time, we are expecting to improve our ability to weather changes in interest rates."

In afternoon trading, AMFI shares are down 2.6%, or $0.64, at $24.01. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $22.48 to $34.58.