Tag - Casb

Buckeye Gp Holdings LP (Nasdaq:BGH), Vascular Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:VASC) and Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hawaiian Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:HA), Chemed Corp. (Nasdaq:CHE), US Airways Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LCC), Avocent Corp. (Nasdaq:AVCT), CSG Systems International Inc. (Nasdaq:CSGS) and Encore Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:EBTX).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks fell hard on the opening, pressured by a run of weak guidance projections on recession fears from the flood of quarterly earnings reports and by a steep slide in equity markets around the world overnight. Today’s small-cap gainers are BGH GP Holdings (Nasdaq:BGH), Carter's Inc (Nasdaq:CRI) and Compellent Technologies (Nasdaq:CML).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The U.S. dollar continues to soar against the euro, climbing some 1.6% this morning to the highest point in about two years.  
• European and Asian equity markets were in a tailspin overnight, with Japan’s Nikkei sinking 6.8%, Singapore tumbling 5.2% to four-year lows and India shares off 4.8%.  
• A “V” shape would imply a relatively quick bounce out of the lull, while a “U” shape would imply a more prolonged slump.
• Debates are already underway in the economic analysis community about whether or not the U.S. economy will see a “V” or “U” shaped recovery out of the recession.

Small Cap Gainers:

• BGH GP Holdings up 17% after stating that it made a buyout offer for Buckeye GP’s remaining shares for $17 per share. See (NYSE:BGH). 
• Children's apparel market Carter's Inc. raised to "buy" from "hold;" reports solid Q3 results. Shares up over 15%.  See (NYSE:CRI).
• Compellent Technologies generates profit in Q3 2008. Shares up 10%. See (NYSE:CML).  
• United Airlines' parent company UAL Corp. recorded a $779 million 3Q loss on fuel Tuesday. Shares are up 12% today. See (Nasdaq:UAUA).  
• Cascade Bank posted a wider-than expected on government’s nationalization of Fannie and Freddie. See (Nasdaq:CASB). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Telecom Argentina skids 19% in the wake of Argentine government’s nationalization of pension plans. See (NYSE:TEO).  
• Hancock Holding Co. off 16% after posting lower earnings that missed the Street by 24%. See (Nasdaq:HBHC).  
• Foundation Coal Holdings Inc. is down 21% after releasing quarterly earnings. See (NYSE:FCL).  
• Kindred Healthcare slips 32% after lowering Q4 and 2008 guidance, reflecting softer hospital operating results. See (NYSE:KND).  

Shares of Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) plunged 18% to a new 52-week low today after an analyst firm downgraded the company’s stock.

The Everett, Wash.-based holding company was downgraded by DA Davidson, which had initiated coverage of the stock in April 2004 with a “neutral” rating.

By mid-day Cascade is at $5.55, down $1.23 from Tuesday’s close, after trading as low as $5.29 earlier in the day. Previously, the stock had ranged between $5.52 and $16.75 during the past year.

For detailed price information and news stories on Cascade Financial, click CASB.

Crocs Inc. (Nasdaq:CROX), Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) and Hawthorn Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:HWBK) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.    

Also included among the results: MedQuist Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDQ), Protherics  (Nasdaq:PTIL), Cheniere Energy Partners (Nasdaq:CQP), Micromet Inc. (Nasdaq:MITI), Harris & Harris Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TINY) and Primus Guaranty (Nasdaq:PRS).           

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:    

Small-cap stocks hovered near steady levels in early trade, pulled down modestly at times by sporadic profit-taking from short-term traders who caught the rally Tuesday and by a mixed tone on the earnings front. However, selling was limited by an extension in the crude oil pullback and by gains in overseas stock markets. At 9:50 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 1.24, or 0.17%, at 718.06.

Crude oil prices were down about $1 dollar a barrel shortly after the open, supportive to stocks, but the bounce above overnight lows took some of the upside steam away from equities. The energy market has been sinking this week as Hurricane Dolly veers away from key production areas in the Gulf of Mexico and on worries about demand for high-priced crude oil amid sluggish economic conditions in the United States and new usage curbs in China.

The decline in energy prices overnight was a boon to equity markets around the world, with Hong Kong shares up 2.7%, Taiwan up 3.5%, Japan up 1%, Australia up 2%, Singapore up 3%, South Korea up 1.9% and India up 5.9%.

In conjunction with the pullback in crude oil prices, the U.S. dollar has caught a bid the last couple of days. The greenback was up about 0.3% against the euro this morning and about 0.4% versus the yen. A stronger dollar often has a bearish impact on global commodity values since so many products are priced in dollars. Also on the commodities front, grains markets are expected to trade sharply lower today amid improving Midwest weather and the firm dollar tone.

The early glimpse of “big-name” corporate earnings was a mixed bag this morning, with fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE:MCD) topping the forecast and rising 1% overnight, but slipping into the red shortly after the open. Also, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), the maker of Viagra, reported solid results and rose 2.8%. Conversely, Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM) reported sloppy earnings and was down 1.2%, while Costco (Nasdaq:COST) warned they would miss the Street’s forecast . . .

Anchor Bancorp of Wisconsin Inc (Nasdaq:ABCW), First California Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:FCAL) and Preferred Bank (Nasdaq:PFBC) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Bank of the Ozarks Inc (Nasdaq:OZRK), C&F  Financial Corp (Nasdaq:CFFI), Banner Corp (Nasdaq:BANR), Providence Service Corp (Nasdaq:PRSC), City Bank (Nasdaq:CTBK) and Cascade Financial Corp (Nasdaq:CASB).

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

The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTRY), Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE:TWB) and Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) were among the new 52-week lows established during Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

PFF Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:PFB), Downey Financial Corp. (NYSE:DSL) and First National Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq:FNSC) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are today's 52-week small-cap lows:

The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTRY), Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE:TWB) and Preferred Bank (Nasdaq:PFBC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:ECPG) , BMP Sunstone Corp. (Nasdaq:BJGP)and Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Thursday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Shares of Cascade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CASB) have taken a spill on news after the close on Thursday that first-quarter earnings are projected below analysts’ consensus. The Everett, Wash.-based company said that earnings for the three months ended March 31 will be between $0.19 per share and $0.23 per share. Five analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for a profit of $0.29 per share.

At 3:09 p.m. ET, the stock was down $0.79, or 7%, to $11.17.