Tag - Bbnd

Albany International Corp. (Nasdaq:AIN) and Syms Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMS) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Norwood Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:NWFL), BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND), Auburn National Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:AUBN), Emergent Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LZR), Lacrosse Footwear Inc. (Nasdaq:BOOT) and eLong Inc. (Nasdaq:LONG).

Electro-Optical Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:MELA), BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND) and Coinstar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSTR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) navigated choppy trading today as investors waited on specifics surrounding the U.S. government’s plan to aid the housing and financial markets. Large financial firms Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase answered a call from lawmakers and regulators made on Thursday and temporarily halted foreclosures today until the government’s plan emerges.

Unclear details made for an unclear trading day, and stocks see-sawed on high, rudderless volatility. In the end, small caps closed down 2.06, or 0.46%, to 448.36, while the Dow closed down 1.04% and the S&P 500 fell 1%.

Aside from the financial rescue plan currently being voted on in the Senate front, bad news was thrown into the trading mix before the opening bell, when a sudden freefall in Lloyds Banking Group sparked a pullback off pre-market highs in stock index futures and pulled down sentiment into the U.S. stock market open. At one point, Lloyds was approaching 40% losses after saying that they would post a bigger loss than expected. Shortly after, Wells Fargo & Co. weighed on bank stocks further when the large cap reported a Q4 loss that was wider than expected.

Many small cap banks suffered on the sour news, especially Allied Irish Banks (NYSE:AIB), which tanked 19% on the close.

Crude oil prices rose 11.27%, or $3.83, to $37.81 per barrel, supported by enthusiasm for the anticipated approval of the U.S. stimulus program. Elsewhere on the commodities front, gold prices were taking a breather today, but have clearly benefited from safe-haven buying recently. Gold is currently at $942 per ounce.

Earlier this morning, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey came in at 56.2, which was well below the forecast of 61, and which appeared to trigger a mild selling extension in the stock market. A sub-index of the report on consumer expectations tumbled to the lowest level since May 1980.

Individual small caps on the move today included Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SVNT), which fell 19% on news that an FDA review of its gout . . .

Electro-Optical Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:MELA), BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND) and Innovative Solutions and Support Inc. (Nasdaq:ISSC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

Small-cap stocks continued to grind higher into midday, with energy, real estate trusts and financial shares showing the way. A recovery bounce in crude oil and oversold conditions on energy stocks sparked money flow into that arena and provided a lift to the overall market. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Developers Diversified Realty Corp.  (NYSE:DDR), BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND) and Union Drilling Inc. (Nasdaq:UDRL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Bernanke said this morning that TARP funds should be directed toward toxic mortgage-backed assets, relieving many traders.  
• On the commodities scene, gold climbed and copper reversed a big overnight decline in Asia to trend higher.
• Energy stocks appeared to get a lift from a recovery rally in crude oil futures, which reversed a $1 per barrel decline in overnight trading.  
• The worst performers were electronic component makers, aluminum stocks, tire companies, industrial conglomerates and auto manufacturers

Small Cap Gainers:

• Small-cap REIT Developers Diversified Realty Corp. soared 18% as the shopping center management firm recovered from steep losses Monday. See (NYSE:DDR).
• BigBand Networks Inc. rallied 17% as investors appeared to be taking a stab that the video networking solutions firm will announce decent earnings Thursday afternoon. See (Nasdaq:BBND).  
• Among the various energy companies in rally mode today, natural gas firm Union Drilling Inc. was up 13%. See (Nasdaq:UDRL).

Small Cap Losers:

• Cepheid gapped lower and fell 18% gene analysis firm reported earnings that didn’t match up with investor expectations. See (Nasdaq:CPHD).  
• Prestige Brands lowers guidance; stock slumps over 13%. See (NYSE:PBH).   
• AMB Property Corp. slipped 8% as the firm made some dividend announcements. See (NYSE:AMB).  
• Liz Claiborne lowers view, inks credit amendment; stock slides 4%. See (NYSE:LIZ).  

Small-cap stocks continued to grind higher into midday, with energy, real estate trusts and financial shares showing the way. A recovery bounce in crude oil and oversold conditions on energy stocks sparked money flow into that arena and provided a lift to the overall market. At 12:33 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 6.54, or 1.40%, at 475.34.

Looking at S&P groups so far today, the best performers were often linked to real estate, with REITS and real estate services firms posting solid gains. Small-cap REIT Developers Diversified Realty Corp. (NYSE:DDR) soared 18% as the shopping center management firm recovered from steep losses Monday. Homebuilders were also outperforming the broad market as investors looked for bargains along the real estate and construction theme.

The market was clearly divided today, with several S&P groups also posting solid declines through mid-session. The worst performers were electronic component makers, aluminum stocks, tire companies, industrial conglomerates and automobile manufacturers.

Small caps making a big move today included BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND), which rallied 17% as investors appeared to be taking a stab that the video networking solutions firm will announce decent earnings Thursday afternoon. Among the various energy companies in rally mode today, natural gas firm Union Drilling Inc. (Nasdaq:UDRL) was up 13%.

Energy stocks appeared to get a lift from a recovery rally in crude oil futures, which reversed a $1 per barrel decline in overnight trading to rise about $1 dollar in U.S. trading, lifted by reports that Saudi Arabia plans to lower production even beyond the OPEC target to stabilize prices. Elsewhere on the commodities scene, gold climbed and copper reversed a big overnight decline in Asia to trend higher.

Some traders were relieved to hear Federal Reserve Chairman Ben . . .

Developers Diversified Realty REIT (Nasdaq:DDR), Union Drilling Inc. (Nasdaq:UDRL) and TF Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:THRD) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: InterOil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC), BigBand Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:BBND), MedAssets Inc. (Nasdaq:MDAS), Force Protection Inc (Nasdaq:FRPT), Och Ziff Capital Management Group (Nasdaq:OZM) and Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC (Nasdaq:MIC).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are slightly higher and the index may open in positive territory.

The bulls are reacting to news that Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) has received a $7.5 billion injection from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The cash will allow the largest U.S. bank to better deal with losses accumulated through bets on securities backed by subprime mortgages.

On Monday, New York-based Citigroup dragged down financial stocks after announcing that it’s embarking on cost-cutting that may result in the firing of up to 45,000 of its over 300,000 employees.

Investors will have their eyes focused on an index of consumer confidence for the month of November, which is scheduled to be released at 10 a.m. ET. Economists are expecting to see a decline.

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

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. (SHMR), up 10% on news of a rise in third-quarter profit.
• Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA), up 7% on news the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted the New Drug Application for one of its drugs.
• BigBand Networks Inc. (BBND), up 6% on news more companies are deploying its services.

Biggest percentage losers:

• IRIS International Inc. (IRIS), down 6% on news it will offer up to $125 million in a mix of stock and debt.
• China Fire & Security Group, Inc. (CFSG) down 2%.
• CDC Corp. (CHINA) down 2%.

BigBand Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBND) announced this morning that five additional Chinese cable operators will deploy its broadband multimedia-service router (BMR) to process and deliver digital television services.

According to BigBand, the new customers are using the BMR to improve the bandwidth efficiency and optimize picture quality of their digital TV services. The customers include Tibet Cable, Taicang Cable in Jiangsu province near Shanghai, Jiayuguan Cable in Gansu province, Nanchang Cable in Jiangxi province and Luan Cable in Shanxi province.

China continues to be one of the fastest growing digital TV markets in the world, as local operators continue to expand digital services in advance of the upcoming 2008 summer Olympic Games in Beijing, according to BigBand. BigBand now counts more than 40 service providers in China as customers.

Shares of BigBand Networks (BBND) rose $0.38, or 6.43%, to $6.29 in pre-market trading. Shares of BigBand Networks have been trading in the range of $5.47 to $21.63 for the past 52 weeks.

BIDZ.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDZ), Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU) and Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday pre-market trading among those with market capitalizations under $750 million:

Switched digital video provider BigBand Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBND) reported this morning that the third-largest U.S. cable operator, Cox Communications, will use the company’s switched digital video in multiple cable systems.

BigBand said Cox, who has already begun to employ its product in the Northern Virginia market, plans to use the company’s solution to make the most of its bandwidth. BigBand said this will enable significant expansion of its HDTV lineups in markets across the country.

Shares of BigBand were halted in pre-market trading.