Tag - Uacl

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. At 9:57 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 1.42, or 0.30%, at 467.01.

The market is waiting for news today on the bailout proposal by White House officials for the beleaguered auto sector. Hopes for a quick package to keep U.S. carmakers away from bankruptcy played a big role in overnight gains in Asian trading.

In addition, market watchers continue to keep tabs on the Madoff trading scandal, to try and see just how deep the losses will run and what impact it will have on high-end investor funds and confidence in the trading community.

The first batch of economic data this week focused on the manufacturing sector of the economy. The numbers were predictably awful, with the New York Manufacturing Survey notching a record low reading of minus 25.8; ironically, that was still better than the projection of minus 27.5, which underscores just how bleak expectations are running right now. In the wake of the NY report, the industrial production release came out at minus 0.6%, which was also better than the forecast for a slide of 0.9%. In overnight action, the Bank of Japan’s “tankan” survey showed the largest collapse in manufacturing confidence in 34 years, but it didn’t stop the Japanese stock market from soaring 5.2% overnight amid hope for a bailout of U.S. automakers.

European shares were basically flat heading into the U.S. open, but Asian markets were in rally mode overnight. In addition to the big gains in Japan, Hong Kong shares were up 1.9%, Taiwan up 2.9%, South Korea up 4.8%, India up 1.4%, Australia up 2.3%, Singapore up 1.9% and China up 0.7%.

Energy markets were on firm footing this morning, which should provide a lift to energy-related stocks. Crude oil prices were up some $3 a barrel into . . .

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).  

Dorman Products Inc. (Nasdaq:DORM), American Science & Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:ASEI) and Daily Journal Corp. (Nasdaq:DJCO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Universal Truckload Services Inc. (Nasdaq:UACL), China Biotics Inc. (Nasdaq:CHBT), Wainwright Bank & Trust Co. (Nasdaq:WAIN), GTSI Corp. (Nasdaq:GTSI), Waterstone Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:WSBF) and Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Small-cap stocks went back into full-blown bearish mode into mid-session trading, sinking to daily lows while also notching the lowest intraday price print since August 2004. At 12:37 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 20.92, or 3.74% at 538.03. Small-caps were once again pacing the move downward and have been consistently underperforming large-caps on the way down the last few weeks. Both the Dow and S&P 500 were off about 2.2% at midday.

Today’s resumption of the slide must come as a huge disappointment to central bankers around the world, who united this morning to present a coordinated rate cut that they hoped would thaw frozen credit lines and renew optimism in the financial community. For now, the rate cut appeared to have only a fleeting bullish response for the market – and even that disappeared within hours as investors continue to fret about the economy. Even inter-bank lending rates were reluctant to free up despite the bold central bank move on rates.

Chiquita Brands International Inc (Nasdaq:CQB), Great Florida Bank (Nasdaq:GFLB) and Heritage Crystal Clean Inc (Nasdaq:HCCI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Comm Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:CCBP), American Realty Investors Inc (Nasdaq:ARL), China Sky One Medical Inc (Nasdaq:CSY), Toreador Resources Corp (Nasdaq:TRGL), Meta Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:CASH) and Universal Truckload Services Inc (Nasdaq:UACL).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Northern Technologies International Corp (Nasdaq:NTI), Cytori Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:CYTX) and Nexxus Lighting Inc (Nasdaq:NEXS) are among the new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Universal Truckload Services Inc (Nasdaq:UACL), American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd (Nasdaq:AIP) and Peerless Manufacturing Co (Nasdaq:PMFG) are also among the new 52-week highs.

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

Targacept , Inc. (Nasdaq: TRGT), Covenant Transportation Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVTI) and Building Materials Holding Corp. (NYSE: BLG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers:

A management-led team of truckload carrier U.S. Xpress Enterprises (Nasdaq: XPRSA) announced it plans to initiate a $20 per share offer for all class A common stock.

The Associated Press reported on Sunday that General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is buying thin film products from DayStar Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: DSTI).

America First Apartment Investors, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRO) reported it has signed a contract with Sentinel Omaha LLC, an affiliate of the privately held Sentinel Real Estate Corp., for $25.30 per share, or about $532 million in cash.

Professional services company Versar Inc. (AMEX: VSR) announced it was awarded a design and build contract for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contract is associated with the base realignment and closure program at Fort Lee, Va.

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: OREX) announced its weight loss treatment Contrave showed a positive effect on visceral fat and insulin resistance in a mid-phase study.

European hedge fund firm GLG Partners announced its plan to go public though a transaction with Freedom Acquisition Holdings, Inc. (AMEX: FRH).

Citing a new management team and expansion outside its core denim business, CIBC World Markets upgraded True Religion Apparel, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRLG) to “sector outperformer” from “sector performer.”

These are the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

These are the biggest percentage losers among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million:

These are the biggest percentage losers at 10:44 ET among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million: