Tag - Gern

DryShips Inc (Nasdaq:DRYS), Ezcorp Inc (Nasdaq:EZPW) and Ciena Corp (Nasdaq:CIEN) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Geron Corp (Nasdaq:GERN), Palm Inc (Nasdaq:PALM), Danvers Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:DNBK), Elbit Imaging Ltd (Nasdaq:EMITF), Clean Energy Fuels Corp (Nasdaq:CLNE) and First Busey Corp (Nasdaq:BUSE).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) rallied back into positive territory today, rejecting a morning slide to seven-week lows as technology firms, energy companies, gold stocks and downtrodden financial shares attracted buying interest from bargain hunters. Some of today's small-cap gainers were Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), Tempur-Pedic (NYSE:TPX) and Canadian Solar (Nasdaq:CSIQ).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Stock markets in Europe and Asia were in retreat mode overnight, which only added to the selling bias early on in U.S. trading.
• Small-cap stocks rallied back into positive territory, rejecting a morning slide to seven-week lows.
• For 2009, the Russell is off 11%, while the Dow is down 7.9% and the S&P 500 is down 7.8%.
• For the day, bank stocks were up 4.1%, while the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund rose 3.3%.
• Energy stocks were among the strongest performers today, bolstered by a recovery rally in crude oil prices, which jumped $2.80/barrel.
• Gold prices steamrolled to $900 an ounce Friday, gathering momentum from short-term investors seeking a safe-haven.

Small-Cap Gainers:

• Geron Corp. jumped 40% on unusually heavy volume on news that the FDA approved the first tests in human patients of embryonic stem cells. See (Nasdaq:GERN).
• Tempur-Pedic International Inc. rose 24% as the mattress maker beat the earnings forecast just a week after rival Sealy Corp. posted a stunning loss. See (NYSE:TPX).
• Canadian Solar Inc. climbed 17%, reversing a morning slide . . .

Small-cap stocks rallied back into positive territory, rejecting a morning slide to seven-week lows as technology firms, energy companies, gold stocks and downtrodden financial shares attracted buying interest from bargain hunters. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 1.51, or 0.34%, at 444.36. Despite the rally off morning lows, this still marked the lowest weekly close for small caps since the bottom was formed in mid-November and was the second lowest weekly finish in more than five years. For 2009, the Russell is off 11%, while the Dow is down 7.9% and the S&P 500 is down 7.8%.

Technology stocks were a clear source of strength for the market today, with Google Inc. (Nasdaq:GOOG) climbing 5.9% after reporting solid earnings. Earlier this week, Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL) beat the forecast and these good vibes on select tech stocks have helped offset terrible reports from Microsoft and from a handful of chipmakers around the world (such as Samsung and Advanced Micro Devices).

It has been a bruising run for bank and financial shares in recent weeks, but that group found buyers today, perhaps linked to bargain hunting and also likely supported by hopes for a stimulus-tied jump next week as more details about the Obama plans come to light. In addition, the market is starting to expect embattled Treasury Department appointee Timothy Geithner will clear a Senate vote on Monday, providing some leadership in the financial arena. Geithner today said that he would strengthen regulation on over-the-counter derivatives and oversight of hedge funds. For the day, bank stocks were up 4.1%, while the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund rose 3.3%.

Gold prices steamrolled to $900 an ounce Friday, gathering momentum from short-term investors seeking a safe-haven and perhaps even some long-term traders . . .