Tag - Ggp

Small-cap stocks started out the week with a whimper as bleak manufacturing data, sinking financial and homebuilder shares and money flow away from equities took a toll on the market. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 15.86, or 3.39%, at 452.57 and is now down 41% for the year, while the Dow is off 35% and the S&P 500 down 41%.

Bank and financial shares have been a persistent drag on the market in recent days. The big news on the banking front today was an analyst downgrade on JP Morgan Chase and Co. (NYSE:JPM), which pulled down the rest of the financial universe. JPM shares lost 7.4% on the day, and the Financial Select Sector SPDR was off 4.1%. The market also was reluctant to buy bank and financial stocks ahead of earnings releases from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS); both firms lost some 1% on the day. Treasury market yields tumbled some 2% on the day, indicating that money was moving toward safe-haven outlets in concert with the weak tone in equities.

A fresh batch of economic data today was predictably awful, with the New York Manufacturing Survey sinking to a record low and the industrial production report showing a decline of 0.6%. That said, both of the reports were actually better than forecast and a much worse reading on manufacturing overnight in Japan didn’t stop the Nikkei from rising 5.2%, so it would be presumptuous to blame today’s . . .

Small-cap stocks started out the new month with a bearish bang, sinking hard amid gloomy manufacturing data around the world, which weighed on industrial and commodity stocks. Today's small-cap gainers are Mentor Corp. (NYSE:MNT), Qimonda (NYSE:QI) and General Growth (NYSE:GGP).

Today's Market Watch highlights included:

• From a money flow perspective, investors appeared to be fleeing stocks for safe-haven outlets in the credit markets.  
• The dollar was up about 0.5% against the euro, which also weighed on commodity prices.  
• Energy stocks were also an early drag on the market, taking a cue from sinking crude oil prices, which were down $4 this morning.  
• The construction spending report was pegged at minus 1.2%, also below the projection for a dip of 0.9%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Johnson & Johnson to buy Mentor Corp., which is leaping about 90% in pre-market. See (NYSE:MNT).  
• Qimonda up about 30% in pre-market, reports progress on partner talks, delays results. See (NYSE:QI).  
• General Growth pops 34% in pre-market after receiving loan extension. See (NYSE:GGP).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Union Drilling Inc. is off 22% as the natural gas driller tumbled with other energy names such as Patriot Coal Corp, down 14%. See (Nasdaq:UDRL) and (NYSE:PCX).  
• Teekay Tankers Ltd. is down 12%, correcting lower after a huge rally day Friday. See (NYSE:TNK).  
• Solarfun Power Holdings down over 8% in pre-market as energy, solar stocks are all seeing steep declines before the bell. See (Nasdaq:SOLF).
• UAL Corp. is down 6% after the airline filed a mixed shelf to offer securities. See (Nasdaq:UAUA).  

Small-cap stocks turned lower into midday trading, pulled down by worries about the economy, sinking REITS, soft financial stocks and concern that a big stimulus plan announced by China overnight might not be enough to jolt worldwide economic conditions out of the doldrums. Today’s small-cap gainers are AIG (NYSE:AFF), General Steel Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GSI) and Scopus Video Networks (Nasdaq:SCOP).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• S&P's: U.S. REITS may face more negative rating actions; struggling capital markets, awful real estate fundamentals also threaten REITS.  
• Energy traders continue to be ultra sensitive to declines in equities, fearing a troubled economy will squash demand.  
• Coal, agriculture products, aluminum, gold, metals and mining stocks and oil and gas drillers are top performers today.  
• The Russell was the first major index product to slip into the red, beating the Dow and S&P 500 into negative territory by about an hour.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• U.S. plans more aid for AIG; shares up 62%. See (NYSE:AFF).  
• General Steel Holdings Inc. rallied 21% ahead of its earnings release on Friday. See (NYSE:GSI).  
• Scopus Video Networks announces record Q3 2008 results; shares flying 15% higher. See (Nasdaq:SCOP).
• Top executives to buy back shares of VisionChina Media; shares up 15% in morning trading. See (Nasdaq:VISN).  
• Silver Standard last week turned to profit in Q3; shares up 15% today, rising on a commodities boost seen in the market. See (Nasdaq:SSRI)


Small Cap Losers:

• Southwest Water Company slipped 21% after announcing a delay in filings and a postponement on a conference call. See (Nasdaq:SWWC).  
• General Growth Properties down nearly 20% after a myriad of class-action lawsuits were announced against the REIT over the weekend. See (NYSE:GGP).  
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Q3 profit declines; shares slump 18%. See (NYSE:CCO).  
• Newcastle Investment Corp. clocked a Q3 loss on Friday; shares are 17% lower today. See (NYSE:NCT).

Small-cap stocks opened with a strong bid this morning, boosted by encouraging signs in the bank lending market, a rise in energy stocks on analyst upgrades and a perception that a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was slightly more upbeat than recent appearances. Today’s small-cap gainers are WebMD (NYSE:WBMD), Melco Crown (Nasdaq:MPEL) and McMoRan Exploration Co. (NYSE:MMR).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• On the downside, broadcast and cable TV stocks were lower, as were life health insurers and leisure product stocks
• Sectors on the rise today include coal stocks, oil equipment and oil services, oil exploration, oil and gas storage, steel, oil refiners, gas utilities, industrial gases and power products.  
• About one-third of the S&P 500 slated to release results this week
• Crude oil futures were up about $1.50 a barrel, providing a lift to energy-sensitive stocks and also to commodities in general.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• McMoRan Exploration Co. jumped some 22% on earnings news. See (NYSE:MMR).  
• Blackrock Ecosolutions Investment Trust is up 19% back to levels last seen in June. See (NYSE:BQR).  
• WebMD surges 30% on shares purchase by HLTH Corp. See (Nasdaq:WBMD).  
• Casino operator Melco Crown reiterated its City of Dreams plan on Friday. Shares are up 24%. See (Nasdaq:MPEL).  

Small Cap Losers:

• General Growth Properties attempts to sell $2 billion in preferred shares to private-equity firms to lower its debt, WSJ says. Shares are down 13%.  See (NYSE:GGP).
• HLTH Corp. plunges after announcement to terminate merger with WebMD. Shares are down 13%. See (Nasdaq:HLTH).  
• AMAG Pharma down 8% after FDA requests additional data for marketing approval for anemia drug in kidney disease patients. See (Nasdaq:AMAG).
• Syneron Medical slips 12% after the company warns for lower revenues in Q3. See (Nasdaq:ELOS).