Tag - Asei

Lannett Co Inc. (Nasdaq:LCI), Grand Canyon Education Inc. (Nasdaq:LOPE) and American Science & Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:ASEI) are among the new 52-week highs in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Small-cap stocks opened flat, but pushed lower amid concerns about banking stocks, which rekindles fears of the credit crunch. In addition, tech stocks were soft, which played into the selling tone.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers were CryptoLogic (Nasdaq:CRYP), Clarcor Inc. (NYSE:CLC) and Nuance (Nasdaq:NUAN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude oil prices tumbled some $0.90 a barrel ahead of the U.S. stock market open, which was a reversal in trend from modest gains seen in European trading.  
• Compared to 2006, foreclosure filings were up 225%.  
• RealtyTrac reported that foreclosures soared 41% in December versus year-ago levels and for the year foreclosure filings were up 81%.
• Technology shares were in retreat mode overnight, but opened up much better than feared.

Small Cap Gainers:

• CryptoLogic up 22% in pre-market after reporting that Q4 trading is in line with expectations. See (Nasdaq:CRYP).
• Clarcor Inc. is up 9%, getting an earnings-related lift. See (NYSE:CLC).  
• Warburg Pincus to purchase $175 million in Nuance common stock; Nuance shares climb over 8% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:NUAN).  
• American Science and Engineering up 5% in pre-market after receiving $67.1 million U.S. government order for ZBV military trailers. See (Nasdaq:ASEI). 

Small Cap Losers:

• ArthroCare Corp. gapped lower and tumbled nearly 37% amid news that the surgical product maker will be de-listed from the Nasdaq exchange. See (Nasdaq:ARTC). 
• Trimble cuts Q4 revenue outlook; shares fall 15% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:TRMB).
• Cynsosure Inc. gapped lower and fell 13% as the maker of medical treatment systems for aesthetic procedures released preliminary results. See (Nasdaq:CYNO).   
• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. is down 12% and has been sinking fast the last several sessions. See (Nasdaq:RRGB).

Cypress Bioscience Inc. (Nasdaq:CYPB), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Palm Inc (Nasdaq:PALM), American Science & Engineering Inc (Nasdaq:ASEI), Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT), Arthrocare Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC), AeroVironment Inc. (Nasdaq:AVAV) and Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:ALDN).

Emergent Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LZR), Answers Corp. (Nasdaq:ANSW) and VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American Science & Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:ASEI), Applied Signal Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:APSG), Repros Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:RPRX), NCI Inc. (Nasdaq:NCIT), Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT) and Ocwen Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCN).

Dorman Products Inc. (Nasdaq:DORM), American Science & Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:ASEI) and Daily Journal Corp. (Nasdaq:DJCO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Universal Truckload Services Inc. (Nasdaq:UACL), China Biotics Inc. (Nasdaq:CHBT), Wainwright Bank & Trust Co. (Nasdaq:WAIN), GTSI Corp. (Nasdaq:GTSI), Waterstone Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:WSBF) and Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Hawkins Inc. (Nasdaq:HWKN), Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:HA) and DXP Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:DXPE) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

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

Small-cap shares edged higher on the opening, supported by a reversal rally that was triggered ahead of the opening by a tame inflation report. At 9:53 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 3.24, or 0.44%, at 740.09.

The CPI (Consumer Price Index) headline figure came in at 0.2%, which was below the forecast of 0.3%. The “core” reading, which excludes food and energy costs, came in at 0.1%, also below the median forecast of 0.2%. The CPI report suggested inflation wasn’t raging out of control, which sparked a reversal in fortune for equities in the overnight session, and the buyers remained in place for the regular opening.

“Headline consumer inflation rose moderately in April because a sharp rise in food prices was partially offset by no change in energy costs,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said in an email. “Meanwhile, core consumer inflation rose only slightly with largely offsetting price accelerations and decelerations in the various expenditure categories. Although energy prices are expected to rise sharply over the next several months, weakening economic activity over the next several quarters should help cap the gains in core inflation. Although the Fed is currently on hold, at least temporarily, they have heaved a collective sigh of relief with the release of this data,” Wood said.

The market appeared to take away a perception of a hawkish tone from the array of Federal Reserve speakers that were out and about Tuesday, and the CPI . . .

Shares of American Science and Engineering, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASEI) are treading lower in pre-market trading after the developer of X-ray and inspection products for homeland security markets reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue and earnings after Tuesday’s close that declined from the year-ago period and fell substantially short of the consensus on Wall Street. The Billerica, Mass.-based firm said the earnings decline is due to lower gross margins attributable to product mix and an 85% increase in research and development expense.

Shares slipped 14%, or $6.81, to $42.25 in pre-market trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about American Science and Engineering, click ASEI.

The Dow and the Russell 2000 are above their record close levels as U.S. stocks add to earlier gains.  At 2:48 p.m. ET the Russell 2000 had added 5.92 points, or 0.71%, to 839.57, above its May 9 record close of 834.77.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average is also breaking records, up 17.63 points, or 0.13%, to 13,560.51.  Its last record close was 13,556.53, set on May 18.

These are the biggest percentage gainers among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

The following small-cap companies are making news in after-hours trading Monday:

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASEI) reported revenues at $45.9 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, up 13% from the previous year's quarter. Net income was $0.60 per share, up $0.09 from the comparable period in 2006. Billerica, Mass.-based American Science, a supplier of X-ray inspection systems, was up $2.77, or nearly 6%, in after-hours trading, at $50.75.

The Wet Seal Inc. (WTSLA) said its president and CEO Joel Walter will step down from his positions on Feb. 1, 2008, when his current agreement is set to expire. Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based Wet Seal is an apparel retailer geared to young women. The company will release its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday. Shares of Wet Seal were little changed after the announcement, down nearly $0.03 at $5.72.

Interim study results from the BRITE trial in major depression, presented today at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, suggest that Aspect Medical Systems' (Nasdaq: ASPM) EEG-based research technology is a "significant predictor of patient response to treatment of depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) after one week of treatment," the company said. The Norwood, Mass.-based company, which specializes in brain monitoring technology, had planned a conference call for 5:00 p.m. ET. BRITE, an acronym for Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness, presented the findings at the APA meeting in San Diego. In after-hours trading, shares of Aspect Medical were down $0.11 at $15.66.