Tag - Bstc

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:SWHC), Lifeway Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:LWAY) and Starent Networks Corp. (Nasdaq:STAR) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL), Liberty Media Corp. (Nasdaq:LCAPB), Stamps.com Inc. (Nasdaq:STMP), Franklin Electric Co Inc. (Nasdaq:FELE), Sturm Ruger & Co Inc. (Nasdaq:RGR) and BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:BSTC).

Omnicell Inc. (Nasdaq:OMCL), Cash America International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSH) and Hancock Holding Co. (Nasdaq:HBHC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: VSE Corp. (Nasdaq:VSEC), Hanesbrands Inc. (Nasdaq:HBI), BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:BSTC), First Citizens Bancorp Cleveland (Nasdaq:FCZA), Eagle Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:EGBN) and Dynamic Materials Corp. (Nasdaq:BOOM).

The market tried to stand tall through another batch of dreary economic data, but came up empty in the afternoon, with the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closing down 1.53%. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are G III Apparel Group (Nasdaq:GIII), Emeritus Corporation (NYSE:ESC) and BioSpecifics Technologies (Nasdaq:BSTC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The weekly claims report came in at 554,000, which was down from 575,000 last week, but basically in line with market expectations.
• The four-week moving average on claims rose to 543,750, which is the highest point since December 1982.
• The Philly Fed report came in at 39.3, which was up from last month’s reading, but still slightly below the consensus forecast.
• The overall employment picture in the U.S. is expected to get worse over the next couple of months.
• This morning, analysts at UBS lowered their forecast for 2009 profit estimates for the S&P 500. 
• Financial shares were on the mend today, and there were plenty of small banks near the top of the percentage movers list.
• Crude oil prices tumbled 9%, or $3.84 a barrel today, slipping to fresh four-year lows during the session
• Energy stocks paced the market’s afternoon slide, losing some 5%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• G III Apparel Group Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIII) closed 26% higher as the outerwear and sportswear manufacturer shot above the 20-day moving average for the first time since late October on solid volume.
• Emeritus Corporation (NYSE:ESC) rose 22% as the assisted-living . . .

Small-cap stocks edged modestly higher into midday, with support from financial, insurance, airline and homebuilder stocks countered by sinking energy and commodity shares.  Some of today’s small-cap gainers are BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:BSTC), G III Apparel Group Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIII) and Emeritus Corporation (NYSE:ESC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Financial shares were on the mend today, and there were plenty of small banks near the top of the percentage movers list.  
• One immediate beneficiary of the energy price slide should be the airline group; sure enough airlines were among the best performers today.  
• The Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 physical markets was down 1.7% at midday, clearly one of the weakest asset classes in the mix.  
• The U.S. dollar staged a big comeback against the euro today, not only wiping out overnight losses, but rising 0.9%.  
• Oil and gas drillers & oil equipment services firms are among the worst performers today; the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund is down 2.6%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. jumped 41% as the biopharma firm announced a licensing agreement with Pfizer Inc. See (Nasdaq:BSTC). 
• G III Apparel Group Ltd. jumped 21%, rising above the 20-day moving average for the first time since the third week of October. See (Nasdaq:GIII).  
• Emeritus Corporation rose 20%, as the senior facilities living operator climbed above $10 for the first time since early November. See (NYSE:ESC).  
• Chindex International Inc. rose 19% as the provider of health care products in China announced an executive pay freeze for 2009. See (Nasdaq:CHDX).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Tennant Co. slumped 19% as the safety solutions firm announced restructuring plans amid slower sales. See (NYSE:TNC).
• Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. tumbled 17% as the eastern European network gave back impressive gains from Wednesday in quick fashion. See (Nasdaq:CETV).  
• Actuant earnings slashed in first quarter, shares tumble 7%. See (NYSE:ATU).

Small-cap stocks were slightly lower early this morning, pulled down by a rash of weak profit reports and gloomy outlooks amid ongoing concerns about the economic environment. Energy stocks were a soft spot for the market as crude oil tumbled to fresh four-year lows. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:BSTC), Apogee Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:APOG) and TTM Tech Inc. (Nasdaq:TTMI).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The dollar rallied into positive territory against the euro after taking a hit overnight, which could weigh on various commodity markets.  
• Crude oil prices tumbled to four-year lows Wednesday and extended that slide today, off some $1.50 a barrel this morning.  
• The energy market was on the mend overnight, but started sinking fast into the stock market open.  
• This morning, analysts at UBS lowered their forecast for 2009 profit estimates for the S&P 500

Small Cap Gainers:

• BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. jumped 41% as the biopharma firm announced a licensing agreement with Pfizer Inc. See (Nasdaq:BSTC).  
• Apogee Enterprises Inc. rose 12% as the glass maker received an earnings-related lift. See (Nasdaq:APOG).  
• TTM Tech Inc. rose 8% as the circuit board manufacturer continues to climb off the November lows. See (Nasdaq:TTMI).  
• FedEx Corp. met the current forecast, but warned that 2009 looked quite weak and said they would cut costs to prepare. See (NYSE:FDX). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Tennant Co. slumped 19% as the safety solutions firm announced restructuring plans amid slower sales. See (NYSE:TNC).  
• Atheros Communications falls 9.3% in pre-market after being cut to "hold" by Deutsche Bank. See (Nasdaq:ATHR).  
• Actuant earnings slashed in first quarter, shares tumble 7%. See (NYSE:ATU). 
• JP Morgan cuts Bucyrus to "neutral;" shares down 4% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:BUCY).  

Small-cap stocks were slightly lower early this morning, pulled down by a rash of weak profit reports and gloomy outlooks amid ongoing concerns about the economic environment. Energy stocks were a soft spot for the market as crude oil tumbled to fresh four-year lows. At 10:05 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 1.24, or 0.20%, at 485.35.

The Philly Fed report came in at 39.3, which was up from last month’s reading, but still slightly below the consensus forecast. The leading indicators report was down 0.4%, which was in line with projections.

Earlier this morning ahead of the opening, the weekly claims report came in at 554,000, which was in line with market projections, but still awful historically. The four-week moving average on claims rose to 543,750, which is the highest level since December 1982. Continuing claims edged down 4.384 million, down from 4.431, which is a mildly positive development – but again, these numbers are still among the highest in a generation and the overall employment picture in the United States is expected to get worse over the next couple of months.

Bullish traders will say that all the dreadful economic news is a known factor and is already priced into the market. What’s more, most of the profit news has been awful as well, but is also subject to the “been there, done that” market response. This morning, analysts at UBS lowered their forecast for 2009 profit estimates for the . . .