Tag - Pby

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

Also included among the results: Schweitzer Mauduit International Inc (Nasdaq:SWM), Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack (Nasdaq:PBY), Bank of Kentucky Financial Corp (Nasdaq:BKYF), SYNNEX Corp (Nasdaq:SNX), Shuffle Master Inc (Nasdaq:SHFL) and Cray Inc (Nasdaq:CRAY).

Movado Group Inc (Nasdaq:MOV), Alliance One International Inc (Nasdaq:AOI) and Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack (Nasdaq:PBY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Globecomm Systems Inc (Nasdaq:GCOM), JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd (Nasdaq:JASO), China Sunergy Co Ltd (Nasdaq:CSUN), Spartan Stores Inc (Nasdaq:SPTN), AEP Industries Inc (Nasdaq:AEPI) and Patni Computer Systems ADR (Nasdaq:PTI).

Stein Mart, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMRT), Bridgepoint Education Inc. (Nasdaq:BPI) and China TransInfo Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:CTFO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Tessera Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:TSRA), Aristotle Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTL), Kirklands Inc. (Nasdaq:KIRK), Bridgford Foods Corp. (Nasdaq:BRID), CommVault Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CVLT) and Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack (Nasdaq:PBY).

Small-cap stocks were hovering near steady levels into midday trading, drafting off a surprising show of strength in the technology arena and another solid performance from energy and commodity stocks, which helped offset weakness in financial shares. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are DryShips (Nasdaq:DRYS), Excel Maritime (NYSE:EXM) and Eagle Bulk Shipping (Nasdaq:EGLE).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Poorest performers so far today: real estate investment trusts, air freight couriers, food retail firms and railroads.  
• Physical commodity markets turned up from a morning slide, bolstered by a pullback in the U.S. dollar.  
• Top performers so far today: aluminum, steel, coal, oil and gas drillers, semiconductors, life insurers and automotive retailers.  
• Small-cap stocks were hovering near steady levels into midday trading, drafting off a surprising show of strength in the technology arena. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Ocean shippers have been a recurring source of strength this week: Dryships is up 45%, Excel Maritime up 41%, Eagle Bulk up 40% and Genco up 27%. See (Nasdaq:DRYS), (NYSE:EXM), (Nasdaq:EGLE) and (NYSE:GNK).  
• Exco Resources Inc. jumped 40% as the oil and natural gas company announced results on the completion of a Louisiana well. See (NYSE:XCO).  
• International Assets reports Q4 results; shares pop 23%. See (Nasdaq:IAAC).
• KMG Chemicals up 22% after reporting Q1 results with 145% increase in revenues, reaffirming FY 2009 guidance. See (Nasdaq:KMGB).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Pep Boys falls 23% after company posts unexpected Q3 loss. See (NYSE:PBY).  
• Buckeye Technologies lowers guidance, cuts production in Florida. Shares tumble 22%. See (NYSE:BKI).  
• Universal Stainless & Alloy Products slumped 15% as some steel companies saw a correction off the big rally Monday. See (Nasdaq:USAP).
• Baird downgrades diversified industrial manufacturer Actuant Corp. to "neutral" from "outperform," halves its price target on the stock. Shares fall over 14%. See (NYSE:ATU).  

DineEquity Inc. (Nasdaq:DIN), C&D Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:CHP) and Stream Global Services Inc. (Nasdaq:OOO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: EnerNOC Inc. (Nasdaq:ENOC), Dreman/Claymore Dividend & Income Fund (Nasdaq:DCS), Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack (Nasdaq:PBY), MAG Silver Corp (Nasdaq:MVG), Britannia Bulk Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:DWT) and Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY) has a bit more pep in its step this morning after the automotive aftermarket retail and service chain reported a net profit for its fiscal first quarter, while analysts were expecting a loss. Sales fell 5% from the year-ago quarter, but still managed to beat the consensus on Wall Street.

Shares edged up 3%, or $0.28, to $9.01 ahead of the opening bell. For detailed price information and recent news stories about The Pep Boys, click PBY.  

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) jumped more than 3% today as investors seized on speculation of an upcoming interest rate cut. The small-cap index gained 26.77 points, or 3.60%, to 770.04. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) added 331.01 points, or 2.55%, to 13,289.45.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has lost 2.21%, while the Dow has advanced 6.53% and the S&P 500 is up 3.70%.

The bulls completely dominated today’s session, their enthusiasm fueled by speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve is considering lowering its target interest rate when it next meets on Dec. 11.            

It all started with U.S. Federal Reserve vice chairman Donald Kohn, who told an audience in New York the current economic conditions “require flexible and pragmatic policymaking—nimble is the adjective I used a few weeks ago.”

“The increased turbulence of recent weeks partly reversed some of the improvement in market functioning over the late part of September and in October,” Kohn explained. “Should the elevated turbulence persist, it would increase the possibility of further tightening in financial conditions for households and businesses.”

Investors interpreted the remarks as a sign that the U.S. central bank is mulling a cut in the federal funds rate, the rate at which commercial banks make overnight loans to each other. The Fed lowered the rate to 4.50% from 4.75% when it last met on Oct. 31.

Stocks opened strong and added to their gains as the session progressed.

It’s a good thing Kohn focused investors’ attention away from the economy, because the data that came out today painted a bleak picture.