Tag - Optr

Poniard Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:PARD), IncrediMail Ltd. (Nasdaq:MAIL) and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: ClickSoftware Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:CKSW), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR), Fuqi International Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI), Acacia Research-Acacia Technologies (Nasdaq:ACTG), RehabCare Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHB) and North Asia Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:NHR).

Paragon Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:PRGN), Crawford Ord Shs Class B (Nasdaq:CRD.B) and Dycom Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:DY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Nymagic Inc. (Nasdaq:NYM), North American Energy Partners Inc. (Nasdaq:NOA), VanceInfo Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:VIT), Celldex Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CLDX), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and Susser Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:SUSS).

Zion Oil and Gas Inc. (Nasdaq:ZN), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq:AMED) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: American Italian Pasta Co. (Nasdaq:AIPC), Answers Corp. (Nasdaq:ANSW), Cepheid (Nasdaq:CPHD), American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. (Nasdaq:AEL), Tredegar Corp. (Nasdaq:TG) and Sport Supply Group Inc. (Nasdaq:RBI).

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR), Hot Topic Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT) and SIGA Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SIGA) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

hhgregg Inc. (Nasdaq:HGG), Theravance Inc. (Nasdaq:THRX) and Hot Topic, Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT) are among the new 52-week highs in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR), American Italian Pasta Co. (Nasdaq:AIPC), ArcSight Inc. (Nasdaq:ARST), Monro Muffler Brake Inc. (Nasdaq:MNRO), Neutral Tandem Inc. (Nasdaq:TNDM) and Ocwen Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCN).

Ocwen Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCN), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and Life Partners Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:LPHI) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Lannett Co Inc. (Nasdaq:LCI), Village Super Market Inc. (Nasdaq:VLGEA), Citizens Inc. (Nasdaq:CIA), SXC Health Solutions Corp. (Nasdaq:SXCI), Hot Topic, Inc. (Nasdaq:HOTT) and American Bancorp of New Jersey Inc. (Nasdaq:ABNJ).

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:OPTR), Ocwen Financial Corp (Nasdaq:OCN) and Force Protection Inc (Nasdaq:FRPT) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: CH Energy Group Inc (Nasdaq:CHG), Benjamin Franklin Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:BFBC), Rochester Medical Corp (Nasdaq:ROCM), SXC Health Solutions Corp (Nasdaq:SXCI), Grand Canyon Education Inc (Nasdaq:LOPE) and Shenandoah Telecommunications Co (Nasdaq:SHEN).

Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) is the sole 52-week high on Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAG), Protection One Inc. (Nasdaq:PONE) and Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq:GSOL), Patriot Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:PCX), Transcat Inc. (Nasdaq:TRNS), Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq:ABCB), Aristotle Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTL) and Cadence Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CADE).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher on the open but slipped back into negative territory about 20 minutes into the session as oversold conditions, bargain hunting and a bounce in downtrodden commodity shares battled with dreary weekly claims data, which showed the latest filings at seven-year highs and continuing claims at 25-year highs. Today’s small-cap gainers are AMAG Pharmaceuticals. (Nasdaq:AMAG), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and JA Solar (Nasdaq:JASO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Overnight, Britain’s sterling tumbled to 6 ½-year lows against the dollar.  
• The international trade report came out at the same time as claims and reflected a trade deficit of $56.5 billion, slightly better than the forecast.  
• Small-cap stocks pushed higher on the open but slipped back into negative territory about 20 minutes into the session.  
• Crude prices were up about $0.40 a barrel ahead of the U.S. stock market open.  
• The weekly unemployment claims report came in at 516,000, well ahead of the forecast for 480,000 and at the highest point since Sept. 2001.

Small Cap Gainers:

• AMAG Pharmaceuticals announces Ferumoxytol resubmission designated complete, Class 1 response by the FDA. Shares pop 80% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:AMAG).  
• Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. up 13% in pre-market following news on Wednesday that the firm’s antibiotic drug met late-stage trial goals. See (Nasdaq:OPTR).  
• JA Solar up 5% in pre-market on very light volume; shares plummeted Wednesday on its Q3 loss, Q4 outlook. See (Nasdaq:JASO).  
• Clean Energy Fuels up 4.2% in pre-market ahead of its Q3 earnings release today. See (Nasdaq:CLNE).  

Small Cap Losers:

• WellCare Health Plans Inc. tumbled 44%, gapping lower to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:WCG).  
• AgFeed Industries, Inc. lowers FY 2008 EPS guidance; shares tank 33% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:FEED).
• A-Power Energy Generation down 7.21% in pre-market on lower-than-average volume. See (Nasdaq:APWR).  
• Sina Q3 profit rises, provides Q4 revenue outlook. Shares are down 5.2% in pre-market on light volume. See (Nasdaq:SINA).  

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAG), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF), TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI), United Community Banks Inc. (Nasdaq:UCBI), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ), A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR) and Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS).

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd. (Nasdaq:SOLF) are among the most actively traded companies in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), Ciena Corp. (Nasdaq:CIEN), Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:MLNX), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR), TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:TSYS) and Atheros Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:ATHR).

Here are the most actively traded companies among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) dove again Tuesday, closing down over 2% and rejecting a brief afternoon bounce into positive territory. Today’s small-cap gainers are Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:OPTR), Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE:CCO) and Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE:HPT).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• For the year, small caps are off 37%, while the Dow is down 34% and the S&P 500 is down 39%.
• Energy, insurance, retail, technology and financial stocks were major sources of weakness today.
• Homebuilders, drug stocks, agriculture products and home entertainment software companies lagged the overall market downdraft.
• Russia is the second-largest oil producer in the world and in addition to the commodity woes right now, had to raise interest rates today to fight off capital outflow and inflation.
• Crude oil prices tumbled to 20-month lows, slipping below $59 a barrel as concerns about demand continue to chip away at commodity valuation.
• Data from China overnight showed that import growth was slowing and that inflation was at a 17-month low.
• The slide in physical markets gained momentum as the dollar rallied against the euro, with the greenback up 1.5% as the day progressed.
• The Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 commodity markets tumbled some 3%, sinking to the lowest point since December 2003.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. jumped 87% on news that the firm’s antibiotic drug met late-stage trial goals. See (Nasdaq:OPTR).
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings closed up 27% despite being downgraded . . .

Small-cap stocks took a dive again Tuesday, rejecting a brief afternoon bounce into positive territory as concerns about the economy, tumbling corporate profits and slumping commodity markets continue to take a toll. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 10.81, or 2.19% at 482.29, the third-lowest daily close in more than five years (all of which have taken place since late October). For the year, small caps are off 37%, while the Dow is down 34% and the S&P 500 is down 39%.

Energy, insurance, retail, technology and financial stocks were major sources of weakness today. Homebuilders, drug stocks, agriculture products and home entertainment software companies lagged the overall market downdraft and some real estate investment trusts (REITS) had a bounce after getting clobbered Tuesday.

The Russell actually pulled into the green around 2:30 p.m. ET, when BlackRock president Robert Kapito said that a $30 billion Bear Stearns mortgage portfolio could be worth more than market expectations. The bounce got additional fuel when housing agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said that homeowners facing foreclosure who were paying more than 38% of their income on mortgage payments could have those payments reduced. On Monday, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) launched a program that could result in $20 billion worth of refinancing in an effort to keep people in their homes. JP Morgan Chase and Co. (NYSE:JPM), who recently took over Washington Mutual’s massive mortgage portfolio also announced measures in recent days to help out stem the heavy flow of foreclosures. Just a couple of weeks ago, RealtyTrac estimated foreclosure filings at a record number of more than three quarter of a million homes, up a startling 71% in the third quarter.

U.S. equities got a sour start to the day when markets in Asia and Europe were reeling from sinking financial, energy and commodity shares. The European market shed about 4% on the day, while markets in Japan lost 3%, Australia was off 3.5% and India was down 6.6%. But the worst news came from Russia, where the Micex Stock Exchange halted trading for two days when the market tumbled 12%. Russia is the second-largest oil producer in the world and in addition to the commodity woes right now, had to raise interest rates today to fight off capital outflow and inflation at a time when the rest of the world has been slashing rates to battle sluggish economic . . .

Small-cap stocks tumbled on the open, pulled down by spillover selling from a decline in overseas markets fueled by a weak tone in financial and commodity shares. Today’s small-cap gainers are Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:OPTR), Crucell (NYSE:CRXL) and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (Nasdaq:GLDD).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Ernst & Young survey: 52% of CEOs of Russell 2000 companies expect no real economic upswing until 2010.  
• As for the crude oil, the market for black gold was down about $2 a barrel into the U.S. stock market opening and briefly printed below $60.  
• Small caps tumbled on the open, pulled down by spillover selling from a decline in overseas markets fueled by a weak tone in financial and commodity shares.  
• Emerging markets were taking a hit this morning, with stock markets in Russia slipping 9% at times overnight, while shares in Dubai off 7%.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Optimer Pharmaceuticals soaring 75% in pre-market on Phase 3 news. See (Nasdaq:OPTR).  
• Biotech firm Crucell swings to profit in Q3; shares up over 10% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CRXL).  
• Morgan Joseph upgrades Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation to "buy" from "hold;" shares up 8%. See (Nasdaq:GLDD).  


Small Cap Losers:

• Browne & Co. Inc. is off 36% as the marketing communication company took a hit after reporting earnings. See (NYSE:BNE).  
•  Taleo down 29% ahead of the bell after filing notification with SEC for late filing of Q3 report. See (Nasdaq:TLEO).  
• Focus Media Q3 earnings trail Street; Q4 outlook weak. Shares are slumping 35% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:FMCN).  
• Sangamo Biosciences nerve drug fails a mid-stage trial, shares sink 60% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:SGMO).  

Small-cap stocks tumbled on the open, pulled down by spillover selling from a decline in overseas markets fueled by a weak tone in financial and commodity shares. At 10:00 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 11.42, or 2.32%, at 481.69.

Slumping energy and commodity values already took a toll on overseas equities heading toward this morning’s opening. Shares in emerging market countries that are heavily dependent on energy exports — such as Russia and Dubai — were down as much as 9% overnight. Around the world, stock were off 3% in Japan, Hong Kong was down 4.7%, China off 1.1%, Taiwan down 2.1%, Australia off 3.5%, Singapore down 4.1%, South Korea off 2.1% and India down a whopping 6.6%.

As for the crude oil, the market for black gold was down about $2 a barrel into the U.S. stock market opening and briefly printed below $60. Copper, which is considered a key economic indicator, slipped 3% in London and aluminum producer and Dow component Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) said that they were slashing output in this difficult demand environment.

This morning’s soft tone on commodities certainly is a quick turnabout from Monday morning, when commodity markets were in rally mode in Asia and Europe. If you’re wondering why Monday’s “great news” rally out of Asia on China’s announcement to implement a $586 billion stimulus plan, Northern Trust’s James Pressler penned a great piece on the news, questioning how much of the plan was actually “new” stimulus and just how the money to pay for the plan would be raised.

“Given the vagaries of how much real spending was in yesterday’s announcement, we are hesitant to significantly modify China’s growth forecasts upward or downplay the many risks facing the country’s struggling export economy and encumbered financial system,” Pressler said in an email. “However, we do feel that the uncertainties regarding how China will pay this bill will haunt global markets. If Beijing simply issues 4 trillion (yuan) in debt to cover its tab, then the long-term impact would be a manageable domestic issue. However, if it considers liquidating any of its many U.S.-backed assets or no longer buying as much of our debt, this New Deal . . .

TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Nasdaq:TSYS), VNUS Medical Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:VNUS) and NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:NPSP) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.     

Also included among the results: Brooklyn Federal Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:BFSB), Chyron Corp (Nasdaq:CGS), Transact Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:TACT), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq:OPTR), Farmers Capital Bank Corp (Nasdaq:FFKT) and CombiMatrix Corp (Nasdaq:CBMX).         

Here are the new 52-week highs among small caps:        

Irvine, Calif.-based ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISTA) reported is is selling up to $100 million in common and preferred stock.

These are the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million: