Tag - Prxl

Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD), Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CRTX) and Universal Display Corp. (Nasdaq:PANL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: RINO International Corp. (Nasdaq:RINO), Zoltek Companies Inc. (Nasdaq:ZOLT), Providence Service Corp. (Nasdaq:PRSC), Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:CCO) and Colonial Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:COBK).

Supertex Inc. (Nasdaq:SUPX), Navigant Consulting Inc. (Nasdaq:NCI) and Fuqi International Inc. (Nasdaq:FUQI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cardinal Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CFNL), Landrys Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq:LNY), La-Z-Boy Inc. (Nasdaq:LZB), Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), RTI International Metals Inc.  (Nasdaq:RTI) and Taylor Capital Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TAYC).

Virtual Radiologic Corp. (Nasdaq:VRAD), Heartland Financial USA Inc. (Nasdaq:HTLF) and Meritage Homes Corp. (Nasdaq:MTH) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Destination Maternity Corp. (Nasdaq:DEST), Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), Hexcel Corp. (Nasdaq:HXL), ev3 Inc. (Nasdaq:EVVV), Quaker Chemical Corp. (Nasdaq:KWR) and Intevac Inc. (Nasdaq:IVAC).

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (Nasdaq:HSII) and Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL) are among the most actively traded companies in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL), Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL) and Lincoln Educational Services Corp. (Nasdaq:LINC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: New York Times Co. (Nasdaq:NYT), Forward Air Corp. (Nasdaq:FWRD), Phase Forward Inc. (Nasdaq:PFWD), ICON Plc Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:ICLR), Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq:BSRR) and TradeStation Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TRAD).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Tuesday, shrugging off record low consumer confidence as investors scavenged for bargains on beaten down bank and financial shares, hoping that President Obama’s pick to lead the Treasury will make quick moves to bolster bank balance sheets and mop up toxic assets. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed higher for the third consecutive session, gaining 5.53, or 1.23%, to 455.58. The Russell is still down 8.8% for the year, while the Dow is off 6.8% and the S&P 500 is down 6.3%.

Timothy Geithner – Obama’s nominee to head the Treasury Department – was finally confirmed by lawmakers late Monday and investors are hoping he will move rapidly to utilize government funds to help out banks. Obama himself even said today that the government will need to step up to help out banks with troubled assets, which was the original purpose of the TARP bailout plan before getting sidetracked during the waning days of the Bush Administration. The prospect of a “bad bank” set up to absorb troubled assets was back in play today, with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd saying the idea made “some sense.”

For the day, bank stocks were up 3.3%, while financial shares gained 3.5%. But the upside progress wasn’t necessarily spread all around as retail stocks, airlines and some commodity groups struggled. The S&P Retail Index dipped 1.3%, with home-related retailers struggling. The AMEX Airline Index tumbled 6.9%, with Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL), the world’s largest carrier, going into a 20% tailspin after releasing crummy earnings.

Gold stocks also took a nosedive today, and commodities in general were struggling, even though the U.S. dollar was pretty much flat against the euro and yen. The Commodity Research Bureau Index fell some 3% on the day, powered by a big decline in crude oil prices. The market for “black gold” tumbled 9%, or $4.15 a barrel, to $41.58, pressured by worries about demand amid the recession and . . .

CV Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CVTX), Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL) and Sun Healthcare Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNH) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: TranS1 Inc. (Nasdaq:TSON), Carpenter Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:CRS), Global Traffic Network Inc. (Nasdaq:GNET), Federal Mogul Corp. (Nasdaq:FDML), Pulaski Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:PULB) and MDS Inc. (Nasdaq:MDZ).

Small-cap stocks edged higher as earnings were a little better than feared (though still weak overall) and as investors are hoping for quick action from the Treasury Department now that the confirmation of Obama’s new Treasury leader has been wrapped up. However, soft readings on consumer confidence appeared to stall buying interest. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were CV Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:CVTX), Volterra Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:VLTR) and Parexel International Corp. (Nasdaq:PRXL).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The chart picture for small caps shows that the market is trapped in a mini-range loosely defined by the inauguration day collapse.  
• Copper took a 5% nosedive in overseas trading, which is a troubling sign for the economy as copper is a key ingredient in building.  
• On Thursday, new home sales data will help provide further information about the housing market.  
• The Case-Shiller Home Price Index fell 2.2% in November from the previous month and was down 18.2% from year-ago levels. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• CV Therapeutics Inc. rose 41% on news that the biotech company will be purchased for $16 a share, or $1 billion, by Japanese firm Astellas Pharma Inc. See (Nasdaq:CVTX).
• Volterra Semiconductor Corp. rose 21% after reporting earnings. See (Nasdaq:VLTR).
• Parexel International Corp. rose 16% as the biopharma firm gapped higher following earnings news. See (Nasdaq:PRXL).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Whiting Petroleum Corp. tumbled 15% as the gas company announced plans for a public offering of 8 million shares of common stock. See (NYSE:WLL). 

Small-cap stocks edged higher as earnings were a little better than feared (though still weak overall) and as investors are hoping for quick action from the Treasury Department now that the confirmation of Obama’s new Treasury leader has been wrapped up. However, soft readings on consumer confidence appeared to stall buying interest. At 10:05 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 2.34, or 0.52%, at 452.40.

The consumer confidence report came in at 37.7, below the forecast of 39, and which pulled equity markets slightly off the early highs. Earlier today, the Case-Shiller Home Price Index fell 2.2% in November from the previous month and was down 18.2% from year-ago levels, which marks a record decline in home values. The month-over-month decline was slightly worse than forecast, but the stock index futures seemed to weather the data well ahead of the opening. Although this data series looks gloomy, Monday’s existing home sales report came in above expectations and helped fuel a rise in equities. On Thursday, new home sales data will help provide further information about the housing market.

Some of the early rise in equities was tied to optimism that the Treasury Department will now act quickly to bolster bank balance sheets and fuel lending now that Timothy Geithner has been confirmed to the top post at the Treasury.

Earnings news this morning was mixed, with Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE:TXI) missing the forecast, but the stock was holding steady shortly after the opening. Du Pont and Co. (NYSE:DD) lowered the 2009 outlook and was off about 1% this morning, while Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) basically met the forecast, but was down 5%. On the upside, United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) released strong results and rose 7%.

Crude oil futures fell about $2 a barrel shortly after the opening, pulled down by worries about growing inventories ahead of the weekly stockpile tally from the American Petroleum Institute this afternoon and the Energy Information Association on Wednesday. Oil stocks were a strong performer Monday despite sloppy . . .

Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL) and Convergys Corp. (Nasdaq:CVG) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Ceradyne Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDN), American Ecology Corp. (Nasdaq:ECOL), Cynosure Inc. (Nasdaq:CYNO), Crane Co. (Nasdaq:CR), Hill International Inc. (Nasdaq:HIL) and Greenlight Capital Re Ltd. (Nasdaq:GLRE).

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

Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), Meritage Homes Corp. (Nasdaq:MTH) and Rent-A-Center Inc. (Nasdaq:RCII) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Cynosure Inc. (Nasdaq:CYNO), Ceradyne Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDN), LSB Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:LXU), Convergys Corp. (Nasdaq:CVG), Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL) and American Ecology Corp. (Nasdaq:ECOL).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks turned lower by mid-morning, unable to sustain the opening drive higher against bearish headwinds stirred by glum consumer confidence readings. At 12:35 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 3.35, or 0.75%, at 445.05 as the market slipped to fresh five-year-plus lows once again today.

As we’ve seen in recent weeks, small caps were bruised relative to large-cap products, with the Dow and S&P 500 still in positive territory despite the stunning downturn on consumer confidence readings. The Conference Board’s monthly consumer confidence index tumbled to the lowest level since the survey began back in 1967, sinking to 38.0, well below the forecast of 52.

The dive in confidence was enough to stem an early buying tide in small caps and investors continue to move along with a “bigger is better” mentality on equity investments. Still, the dive in confidence clearly had an impact on large caps as well, which were well off the morning highs.

On the opening, a push higher in Asia and Europe overnight sparked enthusiasm for equities, a sentiment furthered along by a dip in inter-bank lending rates and a firm tone for technology and energy shares. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up nearly 5% at mid-session, providing a significant upside element for large caps that spilled into small caps on a much smaller degree.

It was interesting to see that the Russell stalled this morning just shy of logical short-term resistance at 462 instead of jumping above that point on the open. If the market can mount an afternoon rally through 462, then the next resistance points of note are at 474 and 481. On the downside, persistent price action below 450 is truly troubling and there are no noteworthy support points until the Russell gets . . .

Amer Land Lease REIT (Nasdaq:ANL), Belden Inc. (Nasdaq:BDC) and Air Methods Corp. (Nasdaq:AIRM) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Parexel International Corporation (Nasdaq:PRXL), AtriCure Inc. (Nasdaq:ATRC), Kendle International Inc. (Nasdaq:KNDL), Hiveld Steel Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:HSVLY), Mercadolibre Inc. (Nasdaq:MELI) and Forest City Enterprises (Nasdaq:FCE.A).

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