Tag - Cacb

FNB Corp. (Nasdaq:FNB), BPZ Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:BPZ) and Under Armour Inc. (Nasdaq:UA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI), Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), ICT Group Inc. (Nasdaq:ICTG), VisionChina Media Inc. (Nasdaq:VISN), Safe Bulkers Inc. (Nasdaq:SB) and Cascade Bancorp (Nasdaq:CACB).

Greenbrier Companies Inc (Nasdaq:GBX), Wright Express Corp (Nasdaq:WXS) and Yucheng Technologies Ltd (Nasdaq:YTEC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Jones Apparel Group Inc (Nasdaq:JNY), BPZ Resources Inc (Nasdaq:BPZ), Thermadyne Holdings Corp (Nasdaq:THMD), Taylor Capital Group Inc (Nasdaq:TAYC), Bank of the Ozarks Inc (Nasdaq:OZRK) and Cascade Bancorp (Nasdaq:CACB).

Ocean Power Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT), Cabela's Inc. (Nasdaq:CAB) and Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq:GSOL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Consolidated Water Co Ltd (Nasdaq:CWCO), Cougar Biotechnology Inc (Nasdaq:CGRB), Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI), Cascade Bancorp (Nasdaq:CACB), ATC Technology Corp (Nasdaq:ATAC) and Agree Realty Corp (Nasdaq:ADC).

Small-cap stocks opened higher, lifted by a rescue package for the nation’s No. 2 bank, which eased bank failure worries. In addition, optimism about President-elect Obama’s economic advisory team bolstered stocks Friday and remained in play today ahead of a news conference to announce his appointments. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNR), Omrix Biopharm (Nasdaq:OMRI) and CBRL Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CRBL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Copper prices were up 7% in China trading and a steep drop in the U.S. dollar against the euro should provide a lift to commodity markets.  
• Crude oil prices were up about $1.50 a barrel shortly after the open, down from the overnight peak, but still supported by the stock market upside push.
• In a radio address this weekend, Obama said he wants a two-year stimulus plan to have a goal of creating 2.5 million new jobs.  
• The rescue package for Citigroup Inc. includes $306B in loan guarantees on toxic debt assets and $20 billion in direct cash injection.

Small Cap Gainers:

• China Natural Resources Inc. was up 18% without any apparent fresh news other the general rise in commodities today. See (Nasdaq:CHNR).  
• Johnson & Johnson to acquire Omrix Biopharm for $438 Million; shares of OMRI up 17% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:OMRI).  
• CBRL Group Inc. is up 12% after the parent of Cracker Barrel restaurant and gift shops beat the earnings forecast. See (Nasdaq:CRBL).


Small Cap Losers:

• Cascade Bancorp down 13.6% on light volume in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CACB).  
• Fundtech down over 7% in pre-market after lowering its Q4 FY2008 outlook earlier this month. See (Nasdaq:FNDT).  
• Dish Network Corp. announces agreement with Rentrak Corporation for audience measurement reporting; shares are down nearly 3% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:DISH).  
• Barr shareholders approve pending Teva acquisition; shares down 2% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:TEVA).

Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OMRI), Hughes Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:HUGH) and Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: UAL Corp. (Nasdaq:UAUA), Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (Nasdaq:CETV), CBRL Group Inc. (Nasdaq:CBRL), Focus Media Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq:FMCN), Cascade Bancorp (Nasdaq:CACB) and Zoltek Companies Inc. (Nasdaq:ZOLT).

This week, we follow up on our previous two Newsletter Watch columns, returning to favorite ideas among small-cap funds, as well as a look at two small-cap stocks that fit the "guru strategy" of Warren Buffett.

Two weeks ago, we featured favorite small-cap funds from Jim Lowell. Here, we add a new trio of advisors who see upside potential in small-cap funds and ETFs.

Carl Delfeld, of Chartwell ETF Advisors, is known for his expertise in exchange-traded funds, and his latest "pick of the week" is a bet on the iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap (NYSE:SCJ). The reasons behind DelFeld’s selection are as follows:

1) Small-cap Japanese stocks listed on Japan's second section are collectively trading at below book value.

2) Japanese market is exhibiting stronger momentum.

3) Japanese small-cap stocks are less affected by yen and U.S. dollar fluctuations.

4) Expectations for Japanese economic growth are very low with upside surprise likely.

An added catalyst, he suggest is that global equity managers are scrambling to gain market weighting for Japan after being underweight for some time.

Meanwhile, Thurman Smith, editor of Equity Fund Outlook, sees opportunity in Intrepid Small Cap (MUTF:ICMAX). "Over its first year and a half, the fund lagged its small-cap value competition, but it has held up well enough in the last seven months to deliver an annualized return of 8.2% over its 2.5-year life, a return almost [three times] that of the MSCI Small Cap Value Index," Smith says.

He says that the main focus of this "little-known fund" is on stocks with predictable revenue streams, and that are in industries with high barriers to entry.

Smith points out that Intrepid is a Florida boutique headed by Mark Travis. With a low risk rating, he says, "Intrepid Small Cap might interest conservative investors who want coverage in this area and are willing to accept modest up-market . . .

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are up slightly and the small-cap index is set to open higher.

The mood on Wall Street is cautiously bullish following speculation that several banks will announce a $3 billion bailout plan for bond insurer Ambac Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABK) so that the New York-based company will be able to keep its credit rating.

The Russell 2000 continued a pattern of wicked intraday volatility on Friday, rejecting a morning slump to fresh move lows to close in the upper portion of the range, forming a little bullish pattern on short-term charts. The Index closed at 695.43, down only 0.85 for the day, after enduring double-digit declines for much of the session.

Monday’s 10:00 a.m. ET existing home sales report could spark a little morning volatility, but is just the first of a smorgasbord of economic releases to come this week. Resistance Monday is just overhead at our swing line at 700, then at 704, 712 and 721. Meanwhile, support is at 688, 681 and 675.