Tag - Fire

The economy weighed heavily on U.S. stocks on Thursday, as many observers wondered if the country was on the verge of entering a double-dip recession.

Still, a few small-cap stocks managed to defy Wall Street's massive meltdown, offering some bright spots in an overall dismal market.

Yesterday the Russell 2000 lost 5.95 percent in value, while the Standard & Poor's Small Cap 600 shed 5.22 percent.

Tongxin International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TXIC), SmartHeat Inc. (Nasdaq:HEAT) and City Telecom Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:CTEL) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Valassis Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:VCI), GHL Acquisition Units (Nasdaq:GHQ.U), Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE), Alliance Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ALNC), SXC Health Solutions Corp. (Nasdaq:SXCI) and China Green Agriculture Inc. (Nasdaq:CGA).

<strong>West Marine Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/wmar">WMAR</a>), <strong>Patni Computer Systems&nbsp;</strong>(Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/pti">PTI</a>) and <strong>Sourcefire Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/fire">FIRE</a>) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.<br /> <br /> Also included among the results: <strong>GHL Acquisition Units</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/ghq.u">GHQ.U</a>),<strong> AEP</strong> <strong>Industries Inc.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/aepi">AEPI</a>), <strong>Dynamics Research Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/drco">DRCO</a>), <strong>Steven Madden Ltd.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/shoo">SHOO</a>) and &nbsp;<strong>Destination Maternity Corp.</strong> (Nasdaq:<a href="/ticker/dest">DEST</a>).

Georgia Gulf Corp. (Nasdaq:GGC), Brunswick Corp. (Nasdaq:BC) and Quaker Chemical Corp. (Nasdaq:KWR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: West Marine Inc. (Nasdaq:WMAR), Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE), Tenneco Inc. (Nasdaq:TEN), Callaway Golf Co. (Nasdaq:ELY), OfficeMax Inc. (Nasdaq:OMX) and Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEUS).

Corriente Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:ETQ), Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE) and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE), Quigley Corp. (Nasdaq:QGLY) and hhgregg Inc. (Nasdaq:HGG) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE), KongZhong Corp. (Nasdaq:KONG) and Kirklands Inc. (Nasdaq:KIRK) are among the new 52-week highs in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Quigley Corp. (Nasdaq:QGLY), Hot Topic Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT), Louisiana Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:LABC), SIGA Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGA), Computer Programs And Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CPSI) and Force Protection Inc. (Nasdaq:FRPT).

First M&F Corp. (Nasdaq:FMFC), Superior Industries International Inc. (Nasdaq:SUP) and Calavo Growers Inc. (Nasdaq:CVGW) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: 3D Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:TDSC), DTS Inc. (Nasdaq:DTSI), Blue Coat Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:BCSI), Sourcefire Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE), TranS1 Inc. (Nasdaq:TSON) and Calgon Carbon Corp. (Nasdaq:CCC).

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp (Nasdaq:RXII), Aristotle Corp (Nasdaq:ARTL) and Wind River Systems Inc (Nasdaq:WIND) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

GMX Resources Inc (Nasdaq:GMXR), Sourcefire Inc (Nasdaq:FIRE) and Hi/fn Inc (Nasdaq:HIFN) are also among the biggest percentage gainers.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks are up slightly in Friday afternoon action, after dipping in the morning and then treading higher in midday trading. At 1:42 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 0.71, or 0.1%, at 746.26.

The Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Survey came in at 49.1, which was above the forecast at 48.5. Although the reading was slightly above expectations, it had only a muted impact on stock prices as the number was still below 50 for the fourth consecutive month.

Also, the Michigan sentiment survey came in at 59.8, just slightly above the forecast of 59.5, but still at 28-year lows.

Market sectors showing strength include metal mining, coal energy, iron and steel, gold and silver, and oil and gas operations. Sectors attracting sellers include school services, forestry and wood products, computer accessories, non-cyclical crops and tobacco.

Individual small caps on the move include RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq:RXII), which is up some 18% despite no fresh news. ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nasdaq:CXSP) is similarly up 16%, also without any significant announcements. Sourcefire, Inc. (Nasdaq:FIRE) is getting a 15% boost after rejecting a buyout bid.

On the downside, Medical Action Industries (Nasdaq:MDCI) is diving 21% on earnings-related news. Sigma Designs Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGM) is tumbling about 18% after missing the sales forecast. WGNB Corp. (Nasdaq:WGNB) is falling 11% . . .

Sigma Designs Inc (Nasdaq:SIGM), Canadian Solar Inc (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and Kosan Biosciences Inc (Nasdaq:KOSN) are among the most actively traded companies in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Akeena Solar Inc (Nasdaq:AKNS), Sourcefire Inc (Nasdaq:FIRE) and China Precision Steel Inc (Nasdaq:CPSL) are also among the most actively traded companies.

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

OSI Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSIS), First California Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCAL) and NovaStar Financial Inc. (NYSE: NFI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers: