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VistaPrint Ltd. (Nasdaq:VPRT), Webster Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WBS) and Wintrust Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WTFC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Dolan Media Co. (Nasdaq:DM), Switch & Data Facilities Co Inc. (Nasdaq:SDXC), CoBiz Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:COBZ), AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (Nasdaq:ANN), World Acceptance Corp. (Nasdaq:WRLD) and Maidenform Brands Inc. (Nasdaq:MFB).

Small-cap stocks extended the rally into mid-session trading, boosted by a bounce in the financial arena, which has been a notable source of weakness in previous days. In addition, homebuilder, retailer and insurance firms were strong performers today and the raft of companies fitting those profiles in the small-cap universe helped the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) outperform the Dow and S&P 500. Some of today's small-cap gainers are Genworth Financial Inc.(NYSE:GNW), Terra Industries Inc. (NYSE:TRA) and Maidenform Brands Inc (NYSE:MFB).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• The market now will go into a waiting mode for the 2:15 p.m. ET FOMC policy announcement.  
• Another clear source of strength today came from insurance stocks, with the S&P Insurance Index climbing 4.2%.  
• It was interesting to see homebuilder shares doing so well today despite a terrible report on housing starts, which tumbled to a record lows and were off 18.9%.  
• The ISE Homebuilder Index was up 5.6%, with small-cap firm KB Home (NYSE:KBH) rising 7.1%.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Small-cap firm Genworth Financial Inc. soared some 40%, climbing to the highest point since early November. See (NYSE:GNW).  
• Terra Industries Inc. rallied 13% as the fertilizer company also mounted a big bounce off Monday’s pullback. See (NYSE:TRA).  
• Maidenform Brands Inc. rallied 15% as the intimate apparel maker mounted a recovery off Monday’s big decline. See (NYSE:MFB).  
• Novatel Wireless Inc. names new VP of sales and general manager; shares rise 13%. See (Nasdaq:NVTL). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Satyam Computer Services Ltd. tumbled 56% on unusually heavy volume as the Indian software firm said it will invest $1.6 billion on two infrastructure firms. See (NYSE:SAY).
• Tech company Stec lowers Q4 revenue view, shares fall 15% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:STEC).  
• Cabot Corporation "repositioning" in light of weaker demand; shares tumble 10%. See (NYSE:CBT).  
• Monolithic Power Systems lowers guidance below estimates; shares dip 4% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:MPWR).

Small-cap stocks extended the rally into mid-session trading, boosted by a bounce in the financial arena, which has been a notable source of weakness in previous days. In addition, homebuilder, retailer and insurance firms were strong performers today and the raft of companies fitting those profiles in the small-cap universe helped the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) outperform the Dow and S&P 500. At 12:31 p.m. ET, the Russell was up 12.84, or 2.84%, at 465.41.

The financial sector got a lift from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS), which reported quarterly results that were awful, but which the market embraced as a sign that “the kitchen sink” was tossed into the loss. GS shares were up 9.1% at midday. The Securities Broker Dealer Index was up 5.6% and the KBW Bank Index was up 3.6%.

Homebuilder shares have been on a roller coaster ride lately, but retain a potential bottom on long-term charts and were back on an upside tilt today after sinking on Monday. The ISE Homebuilder Index was up 5.6%, with small-cap firm KB Home (NYSE:KBH) rising 7.1%. It was interesting to see homebuilder shares doing so well today despite a terrible report on housing starts, which tumbled to a record lows and were off 18.9%.

Retail stocks also were doing well today after Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE:BBY) reported strong quarterly results and cost-cutting efforts to brace for a potentially sluggish holiday season. BBY shares were up 15.2% today and the S&P Retail Index rose 2.3%.

Another clear source of strength today came from insurance stocks, with the S&P Insurance Index climbing 4.2%. Small-cap firm Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE:GNW) soared some 40%, climbing to the highest point since early November.

The market now will go into a waiting mode for the 2:15 p.m. ET FOMC policy announcement. The Fed is widely expected to lower the Fed funds target by 50 basis points down to 0.5%, but futures markets are pricing in a 60% chance for a 75-bp cut. The big reaction will likely come from the Fed’s statement, as the . . .

Stream Global Services Inc. (Nasdaq:OOO), Maidenform Brands Inc. (Nasdaq:MFB) and Presidential Life Corp. (Nasdaq:PLFE) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Oxford Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:OXM), Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF), TranS1 Inc. (Nasdaq:TSON), Nanosphere Inc. (Nasdaq:NSPH), Polypore International Inc. (Nasdaq:PPO) and KBW Inc. (Nasdaq:KBW).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) snapped a five-session losing streak on generally bullish economic news and plans to help a bond insurer. The small-cap index added 2.76 points, or 0.41%, to 683.74. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) gained 41.19 points, or 0.34%, to 12,254.99.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 is down 10.74%, while the Dow is missing 7.61% and the S&P 500 has lost 9.17%.

A volatile day of trading began on a bullish note following news that business productivity growth for the fourth quarter of 2007 was revised up to an annualized rate of 1.9%, according to the U.S. Commerce Department before the opening.

Economists were expecting productivity to stay at its initially reported rate of 1.8%.

Contributing to the upbeat mood was a report after the start of trading from the Institute of Supply Management that non-manufacturing activity increased to a reading of 49.3% in February from 44.6% in January. That still indicates a contraction in the sector that provides about 80% of U.S. gross domestic product, but economists had projected worse.

Maidenform Brands, Inc. (NYSE: MFB) shares are lifting after the maker of intimate apparel posted a 97% rise in fourth-quarter profit on strong sales.

For the three months ended Dec. 29, quarterly profit increase to $6.4 million, or $0.27 per share, from $3.2 million, or $0.13 per share, a year earlier. Analysts expected earnings of $0.20 per share.

Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 13% to $95.8 million, compared with $85 million during the year-ago period. Wall Street analysts, on average, projected revenue of $89.8 million.

Going forward, the Bayonne, N.J.-based firm sees fiscal 2008 earnings growth of 10% to 15% and a net sales increase of 4% to 7%.

In afternoon trading, MFB shares are up 19.51%, or $2.35, at $14.38. Over the last 52 weeks, shares have ranged from $11.03 to $24.49.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) and the Dow are rising on news of an upward revision in fourth-quarter productivity.

At 10:13 a.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 4.78 points, or 0.70%, to 685.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 92.89 points, or 0.76%, to 12,306.69.

Stocks are on the green on news that U.S. productivity for the fourth quarter of 2007 was revised up. The U.S. Commerce Department reported before the start of trading that business productivity grew 1.9% at an annualized rate, above the initial estimate of 1.8%. Economists were not expecting an upward revision.

Hours worked fell 1.6% as businesses reduced employees’ hours in order to save money.

But a bearish report by payroll services provider Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NYSE: ADP) is holding the bulls back. The Roseland, N.J.-based company said before the opening that private employers cut 23,000 jobs in February, the biggest drop in nearly five years.

Employment is seen as a lagging indicator and the decline tells us that the labor market is softening as economic growth is slowing.

The Russell 2000 and the Dow moved up to new record closes while the Federal Reserve voted to keep interest rates steady and hinted it won’t make adjustments soon.  In small cap action, news of a net loss lowered shares of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOKU), whereas Maidenform Brands, Inc. (NYSE: MFB) reported a profit and raised its stock price.

The Russell 2000 gained 3.87 points, or 0.47 percent, to 834.77, above its previous record close of 833.80, set on April 26.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average also set a new record, adding 53.80 points, or 0.40 percent, to 13,362.87.