Tag - Esio

Small-cap stocks pushed higher on the opening, lifted by a rally in overseas markets, weekend talk of a huge infrastructure stimulus plan from President-elect Obama and a bounce in commodity stocks.  Some of today's small-cap gainers included Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (NYSE:CBI), Polypore International Inc. (NYSE:PPO) and Clean Energy (Nasdaq:CLNE).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• A big part of the early rise in stocks was tied to news this weekend that Obama was planning a massive infrastructure stimulus project.  
• The Mexican peso, South African rand were both in rally mode, as money flow into emerging markets and commodity exporters was in vogue.  
• Some of the support in commodities was tied to a slide in the U.S. dollar, which was down 1.2% against the euro.  
• Crude oil prices were up $2.70/barrel into the open, trying to mount a bounce after hitting 4-year lows Friday, falling 25% last week.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Getting a lift from the infrastructure talk and the announcement of dividends, Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V. rose 17%. See (NYSE:CBI).  
• Polypore International Inc. jumped 17%, climbing above the 20-day moving average with conviction for the first time since late August. See (NYSE:PPO).  
• Clean Energy opens large-scale LNG production plant; stock is 13.7% higher in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CLNE). 
• Canadian Solar up 13% in pre-market, buoyed by President-elect Obama's plans to ramp up infrastructure spending. See (Nasdaq:CSIQ).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Allos Therapeutics slumping 21% in pre-market, reports Propel trial results. See (Nasdaq:ALTH). 
• The Talbots announces CFO retires, hires a new COO. Shares fall over 12%. See (NYSE:TLB).
• Blyth cuts earnings outlook, down 4% in light after-hours trade. See (NYSE:BTH).  
• ESI, Zygo report early termination of HSR waiting period for planned merger; shares of ESIO fall 3.3% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:ESIO).  

Shares of Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESIO) have lost power and moved into negative territory, despite news that the provider of photonic and laser micro-engineering systems improved its quarterly financial results.

The net income for the quarter ended June 2 was $7.9 million, or $0.27 per share, compared with a net income of $5.9 million, or $0.20 per share, a year earlier, the Portland, Ore.-based company said after Thursday’s close. Seven analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial were forecasting earnings of $0.25 per share.

Seismic equipment lessor Mitcham Industries misses estimates