Tag - Vq

Regis Corp. (Nasdaq:RGS), Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SPPI) and Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (Nasdaq:APL) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Matrixx Initiatives (Nasdaq:MTXX), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Venoco Inc. (Nasdaq:VQ), Titan International Inc. (Nasdaq:TWI), Warner Music Group Corp. (Nasdaq:WMG) and Houston Wire & Cable Co. (Nasdaq:HWCC).

Shuffle Master Inc. (Nasdaq:SHFL), Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEUS) and 99 Cents Only Stores (Nasdaq:NDN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: United Security Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:USBI), Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), Oxford Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:OXM), Venoco Inc. (Nasdaq:VQ), Duckwall Alco Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:DUCK) and Tessco Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:TESS).

Clearwater Paper Corp. (Nasdaq:CLW), Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq:CSIQ) and Liz Claiborne Inc. (Nasdaq:LIZ) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Century Aluminum Co. (Nasdaq:CENX), Patriot Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:PCX), McMoRan Exploration Co. (Nasdaq:MMR), Venoco Inc. (Nasdaq:VQ), Mercury Computer Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:MRCY) and Liquidity Services Inc. (Nasdaq:LQDT).

Small caps took a dive today, closing down 5.97% and snapping a string of six consecutive higher sessions in the process amid gloomy economic worries. Today’s small-cap gainers are Radian Group (NYSE:RDN), Venoco, Inc. (NYSE:VQ) and BlueLinx Holdings (NYSE:BXC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• The Russell is now down 33% for the 2008, while the Dow is off 31% and the S&P 500 down 35%.
• In a research letter this morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs cautioned that downside risks in the economy could lead an even larger slide in GDP figures.
• A weekly inventory report showed growing stocks of energy products and soft demand, which helped fuel today’s decline.
• Even though the dollar gave back overnight gains, commodity markets struggled today, which is a sign that demand worries were front and center.
• Forest products, coal, steel, metals and mining stocks were among the worst performing broad market sectors today.
• In a research letter this morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs cautioned that downside risks in the economy could lead an even larger slide in GDP figures.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Radian Group posts Q3 profit on strong revenue; shares rose 31%. See (NYSE:RDN).
• Independent energy company Venoco, Inc. closed up 20% on higher-than-average volume. See (NYSE:VQ).
• BlueLinx Holdings closed up 20% after appointing George Judd CEO today. See (NYSE:BXC). 
• Acquisitions boost health care company Greatbatch's Q3 profit 53%. Shares closed up 15%. See (NYSE:GB).

Small Cap Losers:

• Adept Technology Inc. tumbled 33%, gapping lower and sinking on heavy volume as the vision-guided robotics firm took a hit on earnings news. See (Nasdaq:ADEP).
• Lakes Entertainment Inc. slumped 29%, plunging a day after earnings and also as a casino referendum in Ohio was defeated. See (Nasdaq:LACO).
• Ashford Hospitality Trust closed down 20% after naming interim CFO. See (NYSE:AHT). 
• Fitch downgraded Colonial BancGroup's ratings last week; shares dove over 22% today. See (NYSE:CNB). 

Small-cap stocks took a dive Wednesday as the market closed the door on a long and historic political campaign and refocused back on a gloomy economic picture. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 31.31, or 5.74%, at 514.64, snapping a string of six consecutive higher sessions in the process. The Russell is now down 33% for the 2008, while the Dow is off 31% and the S&P 500 down 35%.

Small-cap stocks were able to grind out modest gains Monday and Tuesday despite sloppy economic reports on manufacturing, car sales and factory orders, but were unable to sidestep awful data again today on the jobs front and on the sprawling services sector. The marquee economic release today was probably the ISM Non-Manufacturing Survey, but it also shared top billing with the ADP Employment release ahead of Friday’s big Labor Department report on payrolls. The ISM report tumbled to 44.4, which marked the lowest reading for the service sector in the 10 years that the report has been issued. Meanwhile, the ADP data showed a larger-than-expected decline in jobs, which sent shivers up investor spines ahead of Friday’s release. And while the focus now shifts to Friday’s big jobs report, there will still be a hurdle to cross Thursday morning when the weekly unemployment claims come out.

In a research letter this morning, analysts at Goldman Sachs cautioned that downside risks in the economy could lead an even larger slide in GDP figures. “Economic reports continue to imply that the U.S. economy is in decline, with real GDP perhaps contracting by more than the 2% annual rate that we are currently estimating for fourth-quarter real GDP. In just the last day, we’ve seen a sharp drop in auto sales, another significant decline in the ISM manufacturing index, and further evidence of tightening in bank lending standards. Although energy prices are also falling rapidly, this is mainly a reaction to the sharp weakening in economic activity, both here and abroad, and therefore apt to cushion the decline rather than reverse it.”

Commodities were a big part of the advance Tuesday in stocks, but reversed course today. Crude oil prices tumbled 7% today in a violent turnabout from Tuesday’s 10% rally. A weekly inventory report showed growing stocks of energy products and soft demand, which helped fuel today’s decline. Even though the dollar gave back overnight gains, commodity markets struggled today, which is a sign that . . .

Small-cap stocks extended morning losses into the midday time frame, as another batch of dour economic numbers quickly refocused attention from the U.S. elections back onto the recession. Today's small-cap gainers were BlueLinx Holdings (NYSE:BXC), Venoco, Inc. (NYSE:VQ) and Medco Health (NYSE:MHS).

Other Market Watch highlights included:

• Commodities (a big plus for the market on Tuesday) were struggling today. Crude oil prices were off 7% after soaring 10% Tuesday.  
• The best performers are homebuilders, health care services, managed health care and office supplies.  
• Forest products, tire and rubber stocks, health care facilities, coal, Internet retail and broadcast TV companies are the worst performers.  
• The jobs issue is now on the front burner ahead of Friday’s big employment report, which is expected to show a nasty decline.  
• Drug, technology and financial shares paced today’s decline, fueled by worries that a recession in the U.S., global slowdown would dampen corporate profitability and deepen jobs losses.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• BlueLinx Holdings up 20% after appointing George Judd CEO today. See (NYSE:BXC).
• Independent energy company Venoco, Inc. up 16% on higher-than-average volume. See (NYSE:VQ).  
• Medco Health shares up 13% after seeing 38% rise in Q3 profit. See (NYSE:MHS).  
• Natural Gas Services Group announces a 43% increase in Diluted EPS for Q3; shares climb over 11%. See (NYSE:NGS).  
• Genco Shipping cancels agreement to acquire six drybulk newbuildings; shares up over 8%. See (NYSE:GNK).  

Small Cap Losers:

• NeuStar reports Q3 results, downgraded to "buy" from "strong buy." Shares dive 20%. See (NYSE:NSR).
• Ashford Hospitality Trust down 20% after naming interim CFO. See (NYSE:AHT).  
• Reports say Advance America, Cash Advance could take $42M hit if forced to close Ohio centers. Shares careen 15%. See (NYSE:AEA).
• Fitch downgraded Colonial BancGroup's ratings last week; shares dive over 22% today. See (NYSE:CNB).  
• Simcere Pharmaceutical Group down 25% on heavier-than-average volume. See (NYSE:SCR)