Tag - Rsti

DryShips Inc. (Nasdaq:DRYS), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Nasdaq:EGLE) and American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq:AGNC) are among the most actively traded companies in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), Gladstone Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:GLAD), Ariba Inc. (Nasdaq:ARBA), Palm Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM), Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:RSTI) and TBS International Ltd. (Nasdaq:TBSI).

Small-cap stocks extended the morning slide into midday trading, with financial, tech and homebuilder shares overpowering gains in energy and commodity names. Analyst downgrades for key companies in the financial and technology arenas played a role in magnifying worries about consumer spending and the never-ending credit crisis. At 12:21 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 11.08, or 2.36% at 457.35.

On the banking/financial front, analysts downgraded JP Morgan Chase and Co. (NYSE:JPM) and the firm was one of the major drags on large-cap indices, sinking some 6.8% and spreading selling in financial firms throughout the market. Analysts also downgraded Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL), which tumbled nearly 4% and sparked a slide throughout the technology arena. The tech-laden Nasdaq 100 was down 2.2% at mid-session, about double the percentage losses seen in the S&P 500 and Dow.

The Treasury Department announced it was reviewing information from the auto industry and providing regular updates to the White House, which kept enthusiasm for some kind of bailout for U.S. automakers running high. Even though the overall market was falling today, shares in General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM) were up 5.5%, while Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) was up 3.6%.

Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:RSTI), Brookfield Homes Corp (Nasdaq:BHS) and Methode Electronics Inc (Nasdaq:MEI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Houston Wire & Cable Co. (Nasdaq:HWCC), Spartech Corp. (Nasdaq:SEH), CoBiz Financial Inc.(Nasdaq:COBZ), Outdoor Channel Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:OUTD), Palm Harbor Homes Inc. (Nasdaq:PHHM) and Petroleum Development Corp. (Nasdaq:PETD).

Small-caps stocks opened slightly higher, but slipped into negative territory within 25 minutes as the market juggles positive input from commodities against soft financial shares. There is something of a waiting game going on right now in anticipation of the automaker bailout, FOMC Tuesday and wreckage from the multi-billion investor swindle that was revealed late last week. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE:GET), Clearwire Corp. (Nasdaq:CLWRD) and Ciena Corporation (Nasdaq:CIEN).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude oil prices were up some $3/barrel into the open, pushing back above the key $50 level ahead of an OPEC meeting later this week.
• Energy markets were on firm footing this morning, which should provide a lift to energy-related stocks.  
• European shares were basically flat heading into the U.S. open, but Asian markets were in rally mode overnight.  
• Hopes for a quick package to keep U.S. carmakers away from bankruptcy played a big role in overnight gains in Asian trading.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Gaylord Entertainment Co. jumped 37% following a bullish article in Barron’s. See (NYSE:GET). 
• Clearwire Corp. rose 17% without any apparent fresh news behind the move. See (Nasdaq:CLWRD).  
• Ciena Corporation is up 8.5% in pre-market, recouping some of the drastic losses the stock saw last week after posting an unexpected Q4 loss. See (Nasdaq:CIEN).
• China Sunergy to supply 22MW solar cells to Solarwatt; shares rise 7% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CSUN).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Huntsman Corp. tumbled 32% on news that the company terminated a takeover deal from a chemical firm. See (NYSE:HUN).  
• Universal Truckload Services Inc. slumped 18% giving back a nice rally from last week in one quick downside swoon. See (Nasdaq:UACL).  
• Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc. falls 12% in pre-market after lowering Q1 2009 revenue guidance. See (Nasdaq:RSTI). 
• UAL Corp., parent company of United Airlines, is down over 3% in pre-market, despite raising $150 million on sale leaseback agreement. See (Nasdaq:UAUA).