Tag - Anl

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) pushed 2.3% higher on Wednesday and is now down 38% for the year, while the Dow is down 34% for 2008 and the S&P 500 is down 39%. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are American Land Lease (NYSE:ANL), Atlas Pipeline Holding (NYSE:AHD) and Ann Taylor Stores (NYSE:ANN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The MBA Mortgage Application Index came out this morning, and showed a mild dip off last week’s record advance when the index doubled.
• The wholesale inventory report came out at minus 1.1%, which was quite a bit worse than the forecast for a drop of 0.1%.
• The top-performing sectors were dominated by commodities: coal, gold, oil and gas drillers, aluminum, metal and mining shares were all up.
• The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund rallied 5%, far outpacing the rest of the market.
• Financial shares were a drag on the bullish party, as concerns about the credit crisis and tight lending continue to be in play.
• Today’s three-year note auction came in at a higher-than-expected yield, which provided some relief to stocks overall.

Small Cap Gainers:

• American Land Lease Inc. (NYSE:ANL) gapped higher on news that the real estate investment trust was being bought at a huge premium to previous capitalization. ANL shares stormed 221% higher on the news.
• Atlas Pipeline Holding LP (NYSE:AHD) rallied 45% to close above the 20-day moving average for the first time since late September.
• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (NYSE:ANN) jumped 20% and itself closed above . . .

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Wednesday, powered by gains in commodity stocks, but the move briefly lost steam in mid-afternoon as worries surrounding a proposed bailout for U.S. automakers came back into play amid Republican opposition to the $15 billion plan. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 10.69, or 2.30% at 476.40, and is now down 38% for the year. The Dow closed up 0.81% and is down 34% for 2008, while the S&P 500 was up 1.19% Wednesday and down 39% for the year.

Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama called the bailout a “travesty” and threatened to implement procedural roadblocks to stall the bill, which sent a shudder through automaker stocks and widened corporate bond spreads. General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) closed down about 2.1%, while Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) was up 0.6%.

Commodity markets have been pummeled mercilessly for months, but were in vogue again today, with the Commodity Research Bureau Index rising 2.6%. Crude oil futures were up 3.4% or $1.45 a barrel to $43.52, which provided a lift to energy stocks. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund rallied 5%, far outpacing the rest of the market.

And even though energy always grabs the lion’s share of attention, other commodity markets contributed to equities today, with mining, metals and gold stock among the best percentage performers today. Some of the rise in mining stocks likely stemmed from news overnight that Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RTP) decided to slash 14,000 jobs, cut costs and raise capital, which sent which sent the world’s third-largest miner into rally mode. RTP shares jumped 27% today in U.S. trading.

Once again today, financial shares were a drag on the bullish party, as concerns about the credit crisis and tight lending continue to be in play. Also, early declines in Treasury products were whittled away in the afternoon, which keeps concerns about money flow in the mix. That said, today’s three-year note auction came in at a higher-than-expected yield, which provided some relief to stocks overall.

Individual small caps on the move today included American Land Lease Inc. (NYSE:ANL), which gapped higher on news that the real estate investment trust was being bought at a huge premium to previous capitalization. ANL shares stormed 221% higher on the news. Atlas Pipeline Holding LP (NYSE:AHD) rallied 45% to close above the 20-day moving average for the first time since late September. Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (NYSE:ANN) jumped 20% and itself closed above . . .

Small-cap stocks extended the morning rally into midday trading, boosted by surging commodity stocks, which more than offset sloppy action among financial shares. At 12:30 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 10.47, or 2.25%, at 476.18, nearly double the percentage gains registered in the Dow. Small caps also outperformed in Europe today, with the FTSE Small Cap Index up 2%, while blue chip stocks were down 0.3%.

The top-performing sectors among S&P groups today were dominated by commodity companies. The top-performing group was coal, with gold stocks, oil and gas drillers, aluminum, metal and mining shares all posting impressive gains.

Within the commodities arena, crude oil prices jumped nearly $2.50 a barrel into mid-session despite a rise on weekly inventory data. The bounce in crude oil prices helped lift energy stocks, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund up 4.8%.

But the story in commodities wasn’t relegated just to energy. The Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 physical markets climbed 2.6% after washing out to multi-year lows late last week. Metals markets were in rally mode today, fueled not only by the push for commodities, but also be a big jump in mining stocks overnight on news that Rio Tinto would slash jobs, reduce capital spending and sale assets to raise cash. Rio Tinto shares on the NYSE were up 23% at midday. Copper mounted a bounce today, climbing nearly 4% in U.S. trading, which is important because copper has been lagging other moves in metals lately, which does not provide confirmation of an improving economic outlook.

On the automaker front, the White House said that the Bush administration and lawmakers had reached a “conceptual agreement” on the rescue plan for U.S. carmakers, which would include a “Car Czar” to oversee restructuring plans by General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F). GM was up almost 3%, while Ford was up about 1.2%. There are still concerns that Republicans could mount opposition to the bailout plan. The US House of Representatives met at 12:45 pm ET to hold an emergency meeting on the bill.

Despite the impressive rally underway for commodity stocks, the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund was down slightly at midday, and bank stocks . . .

Small-cap stocks extended the morning rally into midday trading, boosted by surging commodity stocks, which more than offset sloppy action among financial shares. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are American Land Lease Inc (NYSE:ANL), Atlas Pipeline Holdings LP (NYSE:AHD) and Thermadyne Holdings Corp.  (Nasdaq:THMD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Copper, a key indicator of economic growth, mounted a bounce today, climbing nearly 4% in U.S. trading.  
• The bounce in crude oil prices helped lift energy stocks, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund up 4.8%.  
• Crude oil prices jumped nearly $2.50 a barrel into mid-session despite a rise on weeKly inventory data.  
• The top-performing sectors were dominated by commodities: coal, gold, oil and gas drillers, aluminum, metal and mining shares are all up. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• American Land Lease Inc. is up 221% as the real estate investment trust agreed to a buyout for $14.20 a share, a 264% premium to Tuesday’s closing price. See (NYSE:ANL).
• Atlas Pipeline Holdings LP jumped 43% and appears set to close above the 20-day moving average for the first time since late September. See (NYSE:AHD).  
• Thermadyne Holdings Corp. surged 26% as the metal cutting and welding product maker benefited from the commodity rally. See (Nasdaq:THMD).  
• Brinker International Inc. rose 18% as the operator of Chili’s, Macaroni Grill and other restaurants continues to climb off the November lows. See (NYSE:EAT).  

Small Cap Losers:

• NOVA Chemicals Corp. is off 12%, setting fresh 52-week lows a day after the Canadian plastics manufacturer announced that the CEO would retire next spring. See (NYSE:NCX).
• ADC Telecommunications Inc. tumbled 15% after releasing quarterly results. See (Nasdaq:ADCT).  
• Arena down 12% in pre-market after insomnia drug candidate fails in study. See (Nasdaq:ARNA).  
• Metalico files shelf registration, shares down 2% in after hours. See (NYSE:MEA).

American Land Lease Inc. (Nasdaq:ANL), Oceanfreight Inc. (Nasdaq:OCNF) and ArcSight Inc. (Nasdaq:ARST) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), PC Connection, Inc. (Nasdaq:PCCC), Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), AnnTaylor Stores Corp (Nasdaq:ANN), Safe Bulkers Inc. (Nasdaq:SB) and Capital Bank Corp . (Nasdaq:CBKN).

Hooker Furniture Corp. (Nasdaq:HOFT), Casella Waste Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CWST) and Amer Land Lease  (Nasdaq:ANL) are among the new 52-week lows in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hutchinson Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:HTCH), Vitran Corp Inc. (Nasdaq:VTNC), Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. (Nasdaq:BGFV), Avid Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:AVID), Gmarket Inc. (Nasdaq:GMKT) and Innerworkings Inc. (Nasdaq:INWK).

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

Amer Land Lease REIT (Nasdaq:ANL), Belden Inc. (Nasdaq:BDC) and Air Methods Corp. (Nasdaq:AIRM) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), AtriCure Inc. (Nasdaq:ATRC), Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL), Hiveld Steel Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:HSVLY), Mercadolibre Inc. (Nasdaq:MELI) and Forest City Enterprises (Nasdaq:FCE.A).

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