Tag - Wcg

Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:PKOH), Keynote Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:KEYN) and ATC Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:ATAC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), Stratasys Inc. (Nasdaq:SSYS), Arctic Cat Inc. (Nasdaq:ACAT), ViroPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:VPHM), Wintrust Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:WTFC) and Given Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIVN).

Pegasystems Inc. (Nasdaq:PEGA), NCI Building Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:NCS) and BWAY Holding Co. (Nasdaq:BWY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Astronics Corp. (Nasdaq:ATRO), WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), BE Aerospace Inc. (Nasdaq:BEAV), Altra Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AIMC), Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN) and National Interstate Corp. (Nasdaq:NATL).

Stocks reversed the downward course they were forging during Friday trading, and pared some losses after the U.S. government put rumors of bank nationalizations to rest. Some of today’s small-cap gainers were Soapstone Networks (Nasdaq:SOAP), Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq:MXWL) and Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SCMP).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• A new report on consumer prices was released this morning. Economists predicted the Consumer Price Index likely rose by 0.3% last month, and the data turned out to be exactly in line with the predictions.  
• For the year, the Russell is down 17.72%, the Dow is down 16.07% and the S&P 500 is down 14.75%. 
• The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 5.75, or 1.38%, to 410.96, while the Dow topped off Friday down 1.34% to 7,365.67, and the S&P 500 fell 1.14% to 770.05.  
• Stocks reversed the downward course they were forging during Friday trading, and pared some losses after the U.S. government put rumors of bank nationalizations to rest.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Soapstone Networks up 18% after the company announced it was reviewing strategic alternatives. See (Nasdaq:SOAP).
• Maxwell Technologies posts higher 4th quarter sales and gross margin, buoying shares 16% higher. See (Nasdaq:MXWL).  
• Sucampo Pharmaceuticals reports its third consecutive year of profitability with record FY 2008 results. Shares climbed 12% higher on the news. See (Nasdaq:SCMP).  
• Analyst lifts Red Robin's target; 2008 revenue Up, com. sales down. RRGB up 12.5%. See (Nasdaq:RRGB).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Chiquita Brands' Q4 loss widens, freezes executive salaries. Shares plunge over 40%. See (NYSE:CQB).
• IT company CIBER, Inc. down 22% after announcing pricing of common stock offering. See (NYSE:CBR).  
• WellCare suspends Medicare enrollments; shares fall 22%. See (NYSE:WCG).  
• Residential and commercial building material manufacturer Owens Corning down 20% as investors digest earnings, small cap mulls job cuts. See (NYSE:OC).  

Small-cap stocks remained higher into mid-session, bolstered by a big acquisition on the pharma front, which sparks hope that small caps are undervalued overall. If there are deals being done for large caps, then there should be attractive acquisitions for a bevy of smaller companies. In addition, a surprisingly strong showing on existing home sales also provided a lift to the market. Some of today's small-cap gainers were RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq:RXII), WellCare Health Plans Inc. (NYSE:WCG) and StealthGas (Nasdaq:GASS).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Looking at sector activity today, metals and mining stocks were the strongest performing group in the S&P.  
• Energy prices and stock market direction have been trading hand-in-hand of late, so the rise in equities clearly supported crude oil.
• Energy stocks were on a roll today, up 2.9%, mirroring a 3% climb in cash crude oil prices.  
• Small caps remained higher, bolstered by a big acquisition on the pharma front, which sparks hope that small caps are undervalued overall.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. jumped 31% on news that the firm will enter a research collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School. See (Nasdaq:RXII).  
• WellCare Health Plans Inc. rallied about 19% as the firm updated its 2008 forecast and said it would pay in fall outstanding term loan balances. See (NYSE:WCG).
• StealthGas climbs 15% in pre-market after announcing a rise in Q3 profit; declaring dividend. See (Nasdaq:GASS).
• Homebuilder stocks were going well today, with the ISE Homebuilders Index up 4.6%, with small-cap builder Lennar Corp. rising 11%. See (NYSE:LEN). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Wyeth withdraws from Crucell takeover talks; Crucell tumbles 15% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CRXL).
• AMN Healthcare Services Inc. was down 13% sinking to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:AHS).  

Geron Corp. (Nasdaq:GERN), CoBiz Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:COBZ) and PAM Transportation Services Inc. (Nasdaq:PTSI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), Bottomline Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:EPAY), Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Capitol Bancorp Ltd. (Nasdaq:CBC), AngioDynamics Inceeaspan Corp.  (Nasdaq:ANGO) and Seaspan Corp. (Nasdaq:SSW).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher after a flat open, underpinned by bullish enthusiasm stoked by news that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) would pay $68 billion for Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) in one of the biggest pharma M&A deals in years. In addition, economic data on home sales and leading indicators topped expectations, fueling the rise in equities. Some of today's small-cap gainers were RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq:RXII), WellCare Health Plans Inc. (NYSE:WCG) and StealthGas (Nasdaq:GASS).
  
Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Crude prices pushed about $1 a barrel higher, which should underpin energy shares if the firm tone persists.  
• Even though much of the early news today seemed soft (outside of the econ data), the market was holding together reasonably well.  
• Leading indicators came in at +0.3%, better than the projection for -0.3%. This marked the first rise in leading indicators since June 2008.
• Existing home sales came in at an annual rate of 4.74M units, above the forecast of 4.4M. Sales were up 6.5%, compared with a slide of 9.4% in Nov.

Small Cap Gainers:

• RXi Pharmaceuticals Corp. jumped 31% on news that the firm will enter a research collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School. See (Nasdaq:RXII).  
• WellCare Health Plans Inc. rallied about 19% as the firm updated its 2008 forecast and said it would pay in fall outstanding term loan balances. See (NYSE:WCG).
• StealthGas climbs 15% in pre-market after announcing a rise in Q3 profit; declaring dividend. See (Nasdaq:GASS).
• AngioDynamics Inc. was up 12%, gapping higher and pushing toward multi-month highs. See (Nasdaq:ANGO).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Wyeth withdraws from Crucell takeover talks; Crucell tumbles 15% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:CRXL).
• AMN Healthcare Services Inc. was down 13% sinking to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:AHS).  

Small-cap stocks pushed higher after a flat open, underpinned by bullish enthusiasm stoked by news that Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) would pay $68 billion for Wyeth (NYSE:PFE) in one of the biggest pharma M&A deals in years. In addition, economic data on home sales and leading indicators topped expectations, fueling the rise in equities. At 10:06 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 11.42, or 2.57%, at 455.78.

Existing home sales came in at an annual rate of 4.74 million units, well above the forecast of 4.40 million. Sales were up 6.5%, compared with a slide of 9.4% in November. Lower mortgage rates spurred refinance and purchase activity, and it will be interesting to see if housing data continues to surprise, or if today’s news was a “flier.” Meanwhile, leading indicators came in at plus 0.3%, also much better than the projection for a slide of 0.3%. This marked the first rise in leading indicators since June 2008.

The news was Dow-30-heavy this morning, with five of 30 Dow stocks making big news. In addition to the Pfizer takeover, arguably the biggest wave came from Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as the maker of heavy equipment said that 2009 profits would shrink relative to 2008 and that the firm would slash some 20,000 jobs. Meanwhile, McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE:MCD) topped the profit forecast. Interestingly, even though the market was eager to embrace the Pfizer news, the potential breakup of the Dow Chemical/Rohm & Haas merger didn’t seem to phase investors.

Even though much of the early news today seemed soft (outside of the econ data), the market was holding together reasonably well. There was some thought that stocks were a little oversold following last week’s slide to the lowest weekly close since the November bear market lows were forged.

Looking at the chart picture, the market remains in a sideways consolidation range and bounce several times last week off dips toward 431 to 435. For today, important support will be at 435, then at 431; a breach of the latter could open . . .

WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT) and Retalix Ltd. (Nasdaq:RTLX) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Hiland Partners LP (Nasdaq:HLND), Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF), Thermadyne Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:THMD), Formula Systems Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:FORTY), Hadera Paper Ltd. (Nasdaq:AIP) and PHI Inc. (Nasdaq:PHIIK).

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

Small-cap stocks meandered through the morning moving back and forth on either side of steady ground as investors juggled negative input from economic data against oversold conditions in the shadow of the previous bounce off the lows. Today’s small-cap gainers are Patriot Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:PCX), Protection One Inc. (Nasdaq:PONE) and K-Swiss (Nasdaq:KSWS).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Looking at the charts, small caps were now flirting with a level that would put the Russell on track for the lowest daily close in more than five years.  
• Tech stocks continue to be a drag on things today, with the Nasdaq 100 persistently underperforming the other indices.  
•  the market fully expects the employment picture to get even worse over the next few months.
• The number of people filing continuing unemployment claims rose to 3.9 million, the highest level in 25 years.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Patriot Coal Corp. rallied 13% after slipping to fresh 52-week lows earlier in the day. See (NYSE:PCX).  
• Protection One Inc. is up 27%, but the move was accomplished on very light volume. See (Nasdaq:PONE).  
• K-Swiss is trading 9% higher after declaring a special dividend of $2-share. See (Nasdaq:KSWS).  
• China Information Security Technology's Q3 profit rises, shares up 6%. See (Nasdaq:CPBY).  
• Green Mountain Coffee Roasters up 11% on doubled Q4 profit. See (Nasdaq:GMCR). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Charleys Inc., the restaurant chain, was down 25% today and retesting the lows set in mid-October. See (Nasdaq:CHUX).  
• WellCare Health Plans Inc. tumbled 44%, gapping lower to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:WCG).  
• SolarFun Power Holdings announces it will release its Q3 results on Dec. 2; shares are down 2.5% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:SOLF).  
• Sina Q3 profit rises, provides Q4 revenue outlook. Shares are down 5.2% in pre-market on light volume. See (Nasdaq:SINA). 

WellCare Health Plans Inc. (Nasdaq:WCG), KV Pharmaceutical (Nasdaq:KV.A) and Oriental Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:OFG) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT), Retalix Ltd. (Nasdaq:RTLX), Life Time Fitness Inc. (Nasdaq:LTM), RHI Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq:RHIE), SI Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SIFI) and Primoris Services Corp. (Nasdaq:PRIM).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher on the open but slipped back into negative territory about 20 minutes into the session as oversold conditions, bargain hunting and a bounce in downtrodden commodity shares battled with dreary weekly claims data, which showed the latest filings at seven-year highs and continuing claims at 25-year highs. Today’s small-cap gainers are AMAG Pharmaceuticals. (Nasdaq:AMAG), Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTR) and JA Solar (Nasdaq:JASO).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Overnight, Britain’s sterling tumbled to 6 ½-year lows against the dollar.  
• The international trade report came out at the same time as claims and reflected a trade deficit of $56.5 billion, slightly better than the forecast.  
• Small-cap stocks pushed higher on the open but slipped back into negative territory about 20 minutes into the session.  
• Crude prices were up about $0.40 a barrel ahead of the U.S. stock market open.  
• The weekly unemployment claims report came in at 516,000, well ahead of the forecast for 480,000 and at the highest point since Sept. 2001.

Small Cap Gainers:

• AMAG Pharmaceuticals announces Ferumoxytol resubmission designated complete, Class 1 response by the FDA. Shares pop 80% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:AMAG).  
• Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc. up 13% in pre-market following news on Wednesday that the firm’s antibiotic drug met late-stage trial goals. See (Nasdaq:OPTR).  
• JA Solar up 5% in pre-market on very light volume; shares plummeted Wednesday on its Q3 loss, Q4 outlook. See (Nasdaq:JASO).  
• Clean Energy Fuels up 4.2% in pre-market ahead of its Q3 earnings release today. See (Nasdaq:CLNE).  

Small Cap Losers:

• WellCare Health Plans Inc. tumbled 44%, gapping lower to 52-week lows. See (NYSE:WCG).  
• AgFeed Industries, Inc. lowers FY 2008 EPS guidance; shares tank 33% in pre-market. See (Nasdaq:FEED).
• A-Power Energy Generation down 7.21% in pre-market on lower-than-average volume. See (Nasdaq:APWR).  
• Sina Q3 profit rises, provides Q4 revenue outlook. Shares are down 5.2% in pre-market on light volume. See (Nasdaq:SINA).