Tag - Rden

Tween Brands Inc. (Nasdaq:TWB), Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DTG) and Isramco Inc. (Nasdaq:ISRL) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Syms Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMS), Elizabeth Arden Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN), CPI International Inc. (Nasdaq:CPII), Herman Miller Inc. (Nasdaq:MLHR), Ener1 Inc. (Nasdaq:HEV) and Christopher & Banks Corp. (Nasdaq:CBK).

Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS) and PetMed Express Inc. (Nasdaq:PETS) are among the most actively traded companies in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE), Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), Elizabeth Arden Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN), Cypress Bioscience Inc. (Nasdaq:CYPB), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and A Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:APWR).

The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) pushed higher Friday, fighting back from a midday slide into the red as commodity stocks, homebuilders and airline stocks offset another rough day for banks. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Aercap Holdings (NYSE:AER), US Airways Group (Nasdaq:NYSE:LCC) and Polypore International (NYSE:PPO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Ahead of the open, the consumer price index came out at minus 0.7%, which was slightly below the forecast of minus 0.9%.
• The Michigan sentiment survey was reported at 61.9%, which was better than the forecast of 59.0. 
• Crude oil prices climbed 3.1% today, adding $1.11 a barrel to $36.51, which likely helped stabilize energy and other commodity markets.
• The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund was up 0.8%. 
• A slide in the U.S. dollar today likely helped support various commodity markets and provide a cushion for commodity-tied stocks.
• Within the commodities realm, oil refiners and gas utilities were strong performers today.
• In the physical market, corn prices shot up 6% amid worries about a drought in Argentina, which competes with U.S. farmers on the global market.
• Airline stocks in general were solid performers today, with the AMEX Airline Index up 4.6%. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• Aercap Holdings NV soared 22% to the highest daily close since early November. See (NYSE:AER).
• Small-cap carrier US Airways Group Inc. climbed 13% a day after the emergency crash landing in New York’s Hudson River was pulled off without . . .

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Friday, fighting back from a midday slide into the red as commodity stocks, homebuilders and airline stocks offset another rough day for banks. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 3.82, or 0.83%, at 466.45, but still lost 3.1% for the week. For the year, small caps are off 6.6%, while the Dow is down 5.6% and the S&P 500 is down 5.9%.

Banks have been the dominant focal point for investors this week, and it has been a brutal period for some of the world’s most prominent financial firms. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) tumbled 48% for the week and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) shed 45% while posting its first quarterly loss in 17 years and the lowest daily close in more than a decade. Even news overnight that the government was extending another $20 billion of direct injection into BAC and guaranteeing $118 billion of assets couldn’t stem the selling tide today; BAC lost another 13.7%.

We’re only a little more than halfway through the month of January, but according to the S&P sector groups the biggest three losers are diversified financial services firms (down 38%); diversified banks (down 35%) and regional banks (down 27%). There is a segment of the investment community that doesn’t believe the market will go higher without leadership from the financial sector – if they are right, then the New Year is off to a troubling start indeed.

Even though it has been a dour start for banks this year, it’s interesting to note that call activity for Citigroup is starting to pick up steam, suggesting that investors are trying to take a shot at bargain hunting for the embattled firm. This afternoon, Bill Gross, leader of the world’s largest bond fund at PIMCO, said that the . . .

Elizabeth Arden Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN), Belden Inc. (Nasdaq:BDC) and Webster Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WBS) are among the biggest percentage losers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Tecumseh Products Co. (Nasdaq:TECUA), LSI Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:LYTS), BancTrust Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:BTFG), Communications Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:JCS), Kimball International Inc. (Nasdaq:KBALB) and Rochester Medical Corp.(Nasdaq:ROCM).

Small-cap stocks jumped higher on the opening, bolstered by investor hope that yet another government cash infusion into Bank of America will stabilize a shaky situation in the financial arena. Bank stocks, mining companies, chipmakers and automobile manufacturers were up in overseas action, setting the stage for an extension of the bounce in U.S. markets Thursday afternoon. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were American Vanguard Corp.  (NYSE:AVD), Cryptologic (Nasdaq:CRYP) and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (Nasdaq:RRGB).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The yield on benchmark 10-year notes was up 8% early on, climbing back to 2.37% after slipping below 2.2% Thursday.   South Africa, a major exporter of commodity goods, saw their stock market upgraded this morning by Morgan Stanley analysts.  
• Shortly after the open, the greenback was down about 1.4% against the euro, which should help not only crude oil, but a host of commodity markets.  
• Crude oil was lower in European trading ahead of the stock market open, but rallied about $1 a barrel by the opening. 

Small Cap Gainers:

• American Vanguard Corp. will move into the S&P SmallCap 600 index; the agriculture products company rallied 12% on the news. See (NYSE:AVD).  
• Cryptologic up 6% in pre-market after announcing it will outsource its online poker network by end Q1 2009. See (Nasdaq:CRYP). 
• Red Robin Gourmet Burgers up 3.4%, paring some of the dramatics losses the stock saw on Thursday. See (Nasdaq:RRGB).
• Synchronoss Technologies up 2.2% ahead of its Q4 and fully year 2008 earnings release on Feb. 5. See (Nasdaq:SNCR).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Belden Inc. was off 12%, fueled by news that the electronics maker updated the outlook. See (NYSE:BDC).  
• Elizabeth Arden Inc. tumbled 13% as preliminary quarterly results were below expectations and the beauty products firm slashed the outlook for the upcoming quarter. See (Nasdaq:RDEN).  
• Rochester Medical drops 9% after reaching a settlement with Tyco Healthcare Group. See (Nasdaq:ROCM).  
• Meridian Bioscience, Inc. falls 10% in pre-market after issuing Q1 2009 guidance below analysts' expectations. See (Nasdaq:VIVO).

Small-cap stocks jumped higher on the opening, bolstered by investor hope that yet another government cash infusion into Bank of America will stabilize a shaky situation in the financial arena. Bank stocks, mining companies, chipmakers and automobile manufacturers were up in overseas action, setting the stage for an extension of the bounce in U.S. markets Thursday afternoon. At 9:56 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 2.42, or 0.52%, at 465.04.

The Michigan sentiment survey was reported at 61.9%, which was better than the forecast of 59.0. Just ahead of the market open, the industrial production data came in at minus 2%, which was worse than the forecast for a decline of 0.9%. This marked the largest 12-month output drop since 1975, and capacity usage was the lowest since December 2001. Despite the downbeat news, the market didn’t seem to flinch on the industrial production report. Earlier this morning, the consumer price index was pegged at minus 0.7%, which was slightly above the forecast of minus 0.9%. Meanwhile, the “core” rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices was unchanged, close to the forecast of plus 0.1%. Inflation data has very little immediate trading impact right now as investors simply aren’t worried about inflation in the current stage of the economic cycle.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) released earnings ahead of today’s open, with BAC generating their first quarterly loss in some 17 years and Citigroup reporting a staggering loss of $8.2 billion. However, the big supportive news for banks was that the U.S. government will provide a direct $20 billion injection into BAC and will guarantee another $118 billion for underlying assets. BAC shares were up 10% early, while C was up 16%.

Crude oil was lower in European trading ahead of the stock market open, but rallied about $1 a barrel by the opening, supported by expectations for higher equities and a weak tone in the U.S. dollar. Shortly after the open, the greenback was down about 1.4% against the euro, which should help not only crude oil, but a host of . . .

Small-cap stocks pushed higher Tuesday, recapturing all of Monday’s decline as the market continues to gyrate in a sideways consolidation range on light holiday volume. The market started out on a firm note tied to an extension of the Treasury’s automaker bailout, and never looked back. Today's small-cap percentage gainers are: Grand Canyon Education (Nasdaq:LOPE), CH Energy Group (NYSE:CHG), and Force Protection (Nasdaq:FRPT).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• For now, volume is thinned out by the holiday, and it is best not to make too much of the tame price action.  
• However, if the market starts to trade sideways for too long without managing a push through upside resistance, then it will simply look like a new lower ceiling.  
• For the most part, the sideways action is consistent with a bottoming process off the massive bear market collapse.  
• The chart picture remains stuck in a sideways consolidation pattern.  
• The market started out on a firm note tied to an extension of the Treasury’s automaker bailout, and never looked back

Small Cap Gainers:

• Among today's small-cap 52-wk highs: Grand Canyon Education, CH Energy Group, Force Protection, Rochester Medical and South Jersey Industries. See (Nasdaq:LOPE, NYSE:CHG, Nasdaq:FRPT, Nasdaq:ROCM, NYSE:SJI ) 
• Franklin Street Properties Corp is up 9.2% after news late Monday it will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 after Wednesday's close. See (NYSE:FSP)  
• Beauty products company Elizabeth Arden Inc. is up 9.1% to $11.71 after Wedbush Morgan upgrade to "Buy" from "Hold," with a $15 price target. See (Nasdaq:RDEN)  

Small Cap Losers:

• Among today's small-cap 52-wk lows: Skilled Healthcare Group, Blue Square Israel Ltd, and Take-Two Interactive Software. (See NYSE:SKH, NYSE:BSI, Nasdaq:TTWO) 
• Biopharma company Maxygen, Inc., which focuses on developing improved versions of protein drugs, is down 10.4% to $8.11. See (Nasdaq:MAXY)  
• Boutique investment banking firm Evercore Partners is down 8.7% to $12.05 after Keefe Bruyette downgrade to "Market Perform" from "Outperform." See (NYSE:EVR) 

Small-cap stocks pushed higher into mid-session, lifted by gains in technology stocks, retailers, homebuilders and insurers, which more than countered weakness in commodity names. Today's small-cap percentage gainers are : Grand Canyon Education (Nasdaq:LOPE), CH Energy Group (NYSE:CHG), and Force Protection (Nasdaq:FRPT).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• Retailer shares were on the rise today, with the S&P Retail Index up 2.0%.  
• Homebuilders were once again attracting buyers after several days of setbacks. The ISE Homebuilder Index was up 3.7%, handily outpacing the overall market advance.
• The best performers: commercial printers, auto parts suppliers, chemical companies, office electronics firms, wireless telecoms, motorcycle manufacturers, life health insurers and tire companies.  
• A better-than-expected showing on Midwest manufacturing kept all the fresh economic news from being awful, and even that number was still historically low. 
• The market was able to weather another batch of troubling data on the economy, with home prices generating the largest decline on record and consumer confidence sinking to a record low.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Among today's small-cap 52-wk highs: Grand Canyon Education, CH Energy Group, Force Protection, Rochester Medical and South Jersey Industries. See (Nasdaq:LOPE, NYSE:CHG, Nasdaq:FRPT, Nasdaq:ROCM, NYSE:SJI ) 
• Franklin Street Properties Corp is up 9.2% after news late Monday it will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 after Wednesday's close. See (NYSE:FSP)  
• Beauty products company Elizabeth Arden Inc. is up 9.1% to $11.71 after Wedbush Morgan upgrade to "Buy" from "Hold," with a $15 price target. See (Nasdaq:RDEN)  

Small Cap Losers:

• Among today's small-cap 52-wk lows: Skilled Healthcare Group, Blue Square Israel Ltd, and Take-Two Interactive Software. (See NYSE:SKH, NYSE:BSI, Nasdaq:TTWO) 
• Biopharma company Maxygen, Inc., which focuses on developing improved versions of protein drugs, is down 10.4% to $8.11. See (Nasdaq:MAXY)  
• Boutique investment banking firm Evercore Partners is down 8.7% to $12.05 after Keefe Bruyette downgrade to "Market Perform" from "Outperform." See (NYSE:EVR) 

Small-cap stocks pushed higher in early trading, lifted by news that General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM) will receive an additional $6 billion in rescue funds, including a $5-billion stake in the financing arm, GMAC. In other developments, a better-than-feared reading on Midwest manufacturing helped soothe the pain from a weak consumer confidence figure. Today's small-cap percentage gainers are Savient Pharma (Nasdaq:SVNT), Franklin Street Properties Corp. (NYSE:FSP), and Elizabeth Arden Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• Even though crude oil prices were lower, commodities in general were holding together fairly well, underpinned by a drop in the U.S. dollar against the euro. 
• The Consumer Confidence report came in at 38.0, which was below the forecast of 45.2. Today’s reading marked a record low for consumer confidence as unemployment is on the rise.  
• The Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Survey came in at 34.1, which was better than the forecast and which marked the first rise since August.  
• The Case-Shiller Home Price Index came in at minus 18% in October vs. year-ago levels, which reflects a record annual price decline. However, traders noted the data is dated.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Savient Pharma is up 11% to $5.47 after news late Mon. that the FDA is giving fast review to its gout drug. See (Nasdaq:SVNT)  
• Franklin Street Properties Corp is up 9.2% after news late Monday it will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 after Wednesday's close. See (NYSE:FSP)  
• Beauty products company Elizabeth Arden Inc. is up 9.1% to $11.71 after Wedbush Morgan upgrade to "Buy" from "Hold," with a $15 price target. See (Nasdaq:RDEN)  
• AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. is up 8.8% in pre-market, to $12.19. See (Nasdaq:AFSI)


Small Cap Losers:

• Biopharma company Maxygen, Inc., which focuses on developing improved versions of protein drugs, is down 10.4% to $8.11. See (Nasdaq:MAXY)  
• The Finish Line, Inc. is one of the biggest small-cap losers in pre-market trading this morning, down 6.7% to $5.00. See (Nasdaq:FINL)
• Auto supplier Gentex is down 4% in pre-market trading to $7.99 a share. See (Nasdaq:GNTX)  

Small-cap stocks opened higher, but soon turned red, unable to sustain a run that was triggered overnight on yet another news report that the Federal Reserve was not likely to raise interest rates anytime soon. At 9:55 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 1.92, or 0.26%, at 738.82.

The early buying enthusiasm was stoked by relatively positive earnings numbers from financial and consumer “staple” companies, which basically allowed the market to shrug off sloppy economic data.

Ahead of the opening, Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) reported decent earnings — at least compared to market expectations — as did Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS). Best Buy tried to push higher on the opening, but turned lower within 25 minutes, no doubt disappointing bulls who were hoping that BBY gains would ripple throughout the retail sector. The same “rising tide lifts all ships” theory was in play in the financial sector early as Goldman Sachs shares were up 1.2%, soothing ongoing fears about the credit crunch.

The overnight rally barely felt a ripple initially from the Producer Price Index report, which came in above the forecast at 1.4%. The “core” rate, which excludes food and energy prices, was on target with a gain of 0.2%. Given soaring gasoline and corn prices, excluding food and energy when looking at inflation data seems silly, meaning that the headline PPI was not good news. What’s more, the year-over-year PPI number was at 7.2%, which marked the eighth consecutive month in which that number was above 6%, which hasn’t happened since 1977-1982.

Also on the data front, housing starts came in slightly below expectations at 975,000 units, which marked the worst showing since 1991. And finally, the industrial production report was down 0.2%, well below the median forecast for a rise of 0.1%. At first blush, it looked like investors were going to try to ignore the negative . . .

Kosan Biosciences Inc (Nasdaq:KOSN), Ultralife Batteries Inc (Nasdaq:ULBI) and Community Central Bank Corp (Nasdaq:CCBD) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Elizabeth Arden Inc (Nasdaq:RDEN), Shutterfly Inc (Nasdaq:SFLY) and Medifast Inc (Nasdaq:MED) are also among the biggest percentage gainers.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Beauty products company Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN) said after Wednesday’s close that it has contracted a long-term global licensing agreement with Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE:LIZ) to manufacture and distribute Liz Claiborne fragrance brands.

Elizabeth Arden says the venture will enable it to augment market share in its North American fragrance business and garner efficiencies from a larger fragrance business in its supply chain, logistics and sales organizations. Additionally, the company says the agreement will increase gross margins and sales volume for its international business.

Shares popped 15%, or $2, to $15.38 in late morning trading. For detailed price information and recent news stories about Elizabeth Arden, click RDEN.

Small-cap stocks shot higher Thursday, lifted by a strong performance for the U.S. dollar, sinking energy prices and renewed enthusiasm for technology and retail shares. At the close, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) rose 13.57, or 1.89%, to 729.75, the highest daily close since Feb. 3, the second-highest close since Jan. 3, and the fourth-highest close of the year.

The greenback climbed to the highest point against the euro since March 25, and was flirting with the highest daily close versus the yen since late February. A recovery in the dollar would suggest that the U.S. economy may have endured the worst of the slowdown, and would also increase purchasing power of foreign goods. There is also some thought that a resurgence in the dollar could trigger a massive unwinding of short dollar/long energy plays that could ignite a wave of buyers back into equities.

Clearly, the energy market was a source of enthusiasm for stock market bulls Thursday, as crude oil prices slumped to 112.55, down nearly 6% from the peak seen earlier this week as rising inventory and a strong dollar take a toll on crude values. Within the energy sector, investors were chilly to earnings from group leader Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XON), whose shares slipped about 3.4%.

Within broad market sectors, pretty much anything tied to energy or commodities was soft; with gas, oil and gold shares all down. Big losses were also seen in metals and mining stocks, which were off almost 5%. On the plus side, education services . . .

PharmaNet Development Group Inc. (Nasdaq:PDGI), Guaranty Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:GFG) and Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (Nasdaq:RDEN) were among the new 52-week lows established during Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

LaserCard Corp. (Nasdaq:LCRD), Riverview Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:RVSB) and Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

Here are Thursday's 52-week small-cap lows:

Pharmanet Dev Group (Nasdaq:PDGI), FGX International Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:FGXI) and Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq:GTIV) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Elizabeth Arden (Nasdaq:RDEN), Faro Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:FARO) and ShutterFly, Inc. (Nasdaq:SFLY) are also among the top small-cap percentage losers.

Here are Thursday's biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Elizabeth Arden Inc. (NASDAQ: RDEN) is something more than just a pretty face. Despite a warts-and-all stock performance in the final four months of 2006, the company appears to have undergone a successful makeover that could benefit investors.

And at least one analyst smells the possibility of a takeover at some point, in light of recent market consolidation, of the global beauty and fragrance company.

Elizabeth Arden offers a cadre of fragrances bearing the names of such luminaries as actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Catherine Zeta-Jones, along with motorsports star Jimmie Johnson as spokesman for a NASCAR men’s line.

In addition to Taylor’s long-running White Diamonds brand and other fragrances, and Zeta-Jones, the company has continued to extend its appeal to younger potential customers, marketing products from Mariah Carey, the Brittney Spears’ Curious scent and Hillary Duff’s … with Love brand. Its other more-traditional brands include Geoffrey Beene’s Grey Flannel and Halston. For rugged, four-wheelin’ men, it also has a Hummer fragrance.

Elizabeth Arden began in 1910 as a salon founded by its namesake – who actually was Canadian born Florence Nightingale Graham. From its New York City roots along the always-trendy Fifth Avenue, the company has developed a worldwide appeal for its ever-expanding family of products that have emerged from behind its bright red door.

What started with face creams and cosmetics, Elizabeth Arden began to successfully add fragrances starting in 1935, with one called Blue Grass. Elizabeth Arden Graham was an ardent equestrian and thoroughbred breeder, and named the fragrance after the Blue Grass region of Kentucky, where she had an expansive farm outside of Lexington. Her Jet Pilot won the Kentucky Derby in 1947.