Tag - Tone

Conceptus Inc. (Nasdaq:CPTS), OfficeMax Inc. (Nasdaq:OMX) and Federal Mogul Corp. (Nasdaq:FDML) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: DSP Group Inc. (Nasdaq:DSPG), Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (Nasdaq:GNK), CAI International Inc. (Nasdaq:CAP), LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG), TierOne Corp. (Nasdaq:TONE) and RehabCare Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHB).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

FirstFed Financial Corp (Nasdaq:FED), TierOne Corp (Nasdaq:TONE) and Independent Bank Corp (Michigan) (Nasdaq:IBCP) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: QCR Holdings Inc (Nasdaq:QCRH), Lake Shore Bancorp (Nasdaq:LSBK), Green Bankshares Inc (Nasdaq:GRNB), Computer Task Group Inc (Nasdaq:CTGX), Sterling Financial Corp (Nasdaq:STSA) and Nexxus Lighting Inc (Nasdaq:NEXS).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Sun Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:SNBC), Aceto Corp. (Nasdaq:ACET) and Pegasystems Inc. (Nasdaq:PEGA) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Presstek Inc. (Nasdaq:PRST), TierOne Corp. (Nasdaq:TONE) and First Community Bank Corp. of America (Nasdaq:FCFL) are also among the biggest percentage gainers.

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

OraSure Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:OSUR), Synchronoss Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:SNCR) and Thomas Weisel Partners Group Inc (Nasdaq:TWPG) are among the new 52-week lows in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $750 million.

Greatbatch Inc (Nasdaq:GB), Independent Bank Corp (Nasdaq:IBCP) and TierOne Corp (NYSE:TONE) are also among the new 52-week lows.

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

Here are the biggest percentage gainers and losers in pre-market trading among companies with a market cap between $100 million and $750 million:

Biggest percentage gainers:

• Packeteer Inc. (Nasdaq:PKTR) up 13% on news that it will be acquired by Blue Coat Systems for $268 million.

• North American Galvanizing & Coatings Inc. (Nasdaq:NGA), up 10% on news that first-quarter earnings beat the consensus on Wall Street, while revenues met.

• Shengdatech, Inc. (Nasdaq:SDTH), up 4%.

Biggest percentage losers:

• Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq:ALDN) down 11% on news that it reported first-quarter earnings that missed analysts’ estimates by a penny and news that it lowered its fiscal 2008 earnings estimate.

• TierOne Corp. (Nasdaq:TONE), down 2%.

• Hoku Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU), down 1.5%.

Delta Apparel, Inc. (AMEX:DLA), FirstFed Financial Corp. (NYSE:FED) and Riviera Holdings Corp. (AMEX:RIV) were among the new 52-week lows established during Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations or values under $750 million.

PFF Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:PFB), TierOne Corp. (Nasdaq:TONE) and PennantPark Investment Corp. (Nasdaq:PNNT) were also among the 52-week small-cap lows.

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

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) survived a late-session scare to post a small gain on news of a profit rise at Wal-Mart. The small-cap index added 0.82 points, or 0.12%, to 702.34. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) fell 10.99 points, or 0.09%, to 12,337.22.

On a year-to-date basis, the Russell 2000 has declined 8.31%, while the Dow is down 6.99% and the S&P 500 has decreased 8.14%.

Trading got off to a bullish start today following news that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted a 4% rise in net income for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007.

The result was in line with analysts’ expectations and was largely attributed to strong overseas sales. However, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company warned that it could miss analysts’ expectations during the current quarter and forecasted U.S. same-store sales to be flat or rise no more than 2%.

The small-cap index roared out of the gate, soaring more than 1% to a level beyond 710 points. Small-cap stocks held on to gains of different magnitudes until they abruptly fell into negative territory at about 2:40 p.m. ET.

The reason: the price of oil rose to above $100 a barrel due to news of a refinery fire in Texas over the weekend and concerns about exports from producing countries Venezuela and Nigeria.

Worries that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which controls about 40% of global oil production, will keep production steady when it next meets in April also contributed to the rise in the price of oil.

The Russell 2000 languished in the red until minutes before the close, when the bulls returned to give it a boost.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is in positive territory on news of a fourth-quarter profit rise at Wal-Mart. At 2:50 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had advanced 1.31 points, or 0.19%, to 702.83. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 30.04 points, or 0.24%, to 12,378.25.

Wall Street is in a bullish mood following news that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted a 4% rise in net income for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007.

The result was in line with analysts’ expectations and was largely attributed to strong overseas sales. However, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company warned that it could miss analysts’ expectations during the current quarter and forecasted U.S. same-store sales to be flat or rise no more than 2%.

Small-cap companies in the energy sector are among those posting the strongest gains.

Shares of Evergreen Energy Inc. (NYSE: EEE), Headwaters Inc. (NYSE: HW) and Richmond, Va.-based James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq: JRCC) are among those rising.

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are higher and the small-cap index will open in positive territory.

The bulls are ready for action following news that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) posted a 4% rise in fiscal fourth-quarter net income. The Bentonville, Ark.-based company had a profit of $4.1 billion, or $1.02 per share, meeting analysts’ projections and up from $3.94 billion, or $0.95 per share, a year earlier.

The Russell 2000 edged lower on Friday and continues to struggle to sustain buying enthusiasm on the recent rally off the January lows. The Index closed Friday at 701.52, down 3.80 for the day, or 0.54%.

The market will likely focus on market fundamentals and political news early today since we won’t see any economic data until mid-week. Look for resistance at 704, 712 and 721. Meanwhile, support comes in at 693, 688 and 680.