Tag - Amln

Small-cap stocks extended the morning rally into mid-session, with financial and bank stocks leading the way as hope swells for the government to sweep losing assets off bank balance sheets. Importantly, the Russell popped above the recent range highs from the Obama inauguration collapse, which could clear the way for a substantial push higher in the days to come. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Orthovita Inc. (Nasdaq:VITA), Keynote Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:KEYN) and Sports Properties Acquisition Corp. (NYSE:HMR).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude oil prices were mildly higher despite another build in the latest weekly inventory report.  
• Energy shares were higher, but noticeably trailing the overall market advance as large stockpiles and soft demand remain a limiting factor.  
• On the downside today, gold stocks and tobacco companies were lower, with the Gold and Silver Index down 1.6%.  
• Diversified banks, life health insurers, financial services firms, regional banks and asset management firms were top performers today. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Orthovita Inc. climbed nearly 15% as the orthopedic biosurgery firm recovered a big chunk of recent declines on heavy turnover. See (Nasdaq:VITA).  
• Keynote Systems Inc. is up 8.6% as the online data firm rose to the highest point since Nov. 24 amid solid earnings. See (Nasdaq:KEYN).  
• Sports Properties Acquisition Corp. was only up 0.3%, but seeing a volume spike for the day without any apparent fresh news. See (NYSE:HMR).

Small Cap Losers:

• Century Aluminum Co. tumbled 30% as the firm announced plans for a common stock offering. See (Nasdaq:CENX).  
• Plantronics Inc. was down 9% as the headset maker took an earnings-related hit. See (NYSE:PLT).  
• Amylin Pharmaceuticals reports 2008 financial results; shares fall 6% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:AMLN).

Small-cap stocks jumped higher this morning, buoyed by a rush back into bank and financial stocks amid hope that the government will set up a “bad bank” facility to mop up losing bank investments, which would help clear bank balance sheets. In addition, there is a sense that the Obama Administration is moving back toward the original purpose of the TARP of absorbing bad debt paper, a concept that has repeatedly sparked brief rallies in equities. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Regis Corp. (NYSE:RGS), World Acceptance Corp. (Nasdaq:WRLD) and UCBH Holdings (Nasdaq:UCBH).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The weekly MBA Mortgage Application Index tumbled 38.8% to 732.1% and is now at the lowest point since the week ended Nov. 21.  
• There is a chance that some of the enthusiasm on the financial and banking front has also been stoked by optimism ahead of this afternoon’s FOMC statement.   
• The KBW Banking Index was up nearly 10%.   Small-cap stocks jumped higher this morning, buoyed by a rush back into bank and financial stocks.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Regis Corp. charged 24% as the beauty salon and hair restoration company reported earnings. See (NYSE:RGS).
• Small-loan consumer finance company World Acceptance Corp. gapped higher and rallied 20% on solid earnings news. See (Nasdaq:WRLD).  
• UCBH Holdings is up 14% in pre-market on very light volume. See (Nasdaq:UCBH).
• Huntington Bancshares and Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing settle patent lawsuit and enter into license agreement; HBAN rises 12% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:HBAN).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Century Aluminum Co. tumbled 30% as the firm announced plans for a common stock offering. See (Nasdaq:CENX).  
• Plantronics Inc. was down 9% as the headset maker took an earnings-related hit. See (NYSE:PLT).  
• Amylin Pharmaceuticals reports 2008 financial results; shares fall 6% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:AMLN).

 

A bleak picture of the nation’s employment picture sparked a solid opening decline for small-cap stocks. Bearish momentum was furthered by a batch of weak profit reports and outlooks for various companies, but another firm tone in commodities offered up support. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. (NYSE:CEA), China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. (NYSE:ZNH) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:AMLN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The International Trade report also came out this morning and the deficit widened to $57.19 billion, well above the forecast for a deficit of $53.5 billion.  
• The number of continuing claims, which tracks people who are out of work and just can’t a job, rose to 4.429M, above the 4.1M forecast  
• Energy stocks were a dominant force on Wed.'s rally, will be closely watched today to see if commodities can carry the bullish banner again.  
• The unemployment figure marked not just a high for the current economic crisis, but was the biggest number in 26 years. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. soared 56% after the Chinese government served up an aid plan for airlines. See (NYSE:CEA).  
• China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. is up 33% on Chinese government aid news. See (NYSE:ZNH).   
• Amylin Pharmaceuticals up 11.11% in pre-market after reaffirming plans for Exenatide Once Weekly NDA submission by end of first half of 2009. See (Nasdaq:AMLN). 
• Silver Standard up 8% in pre-market after it reports successful follow-up diamond drilling at Maverick Springs. See (Nasdaq:SSRI). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Gildan Activewear Inc. collapsed 43% as the sports apparel maker badly missed profit expectations. See (NYSE:GIL).  
• Pain Therapeutics gapped lower and shed 25% as the FDA turned down the firm’s experimental pain killer drug. See (Nasdaq:PTIE).  
• Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. fell 19% on news that AstraZeneca decided to ditch two of Infinity’s experimental cancer drugs. See (Nasdaq:INFI).
• Retailer lululemon Athletica Inc. releases Q4 results, guides below estimates. Shares fall 18% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:LULU).

 

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMLN) and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Gymboree Corp. (Nasdaq:GYMB), Perfect World Co. Ltd. (Nasdaq:PWRD), Given Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIVN), Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc.(Nasdaq:INFI), Stratasys Inc. (Nasdaq:SSYS) and Capella Education Co. (Nasdaq:CPLA).