Tag - Xprt

LECG Corporation (Nasdaq:XPRT), Riverbed Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RVBD) and Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: IRIS International Inc. (Nasdaq:IRIS), The9 Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCTY), Stratus Properties Inc. (Nasdaq:STRS), Capital Bank Corp.  (Nasdaq:CBKN), Novatel Wireless Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL) and Rockwood Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ROC).

Small-cap stocks remained lower into midday trading, pulled down by renewed jitters over the credit crunch, which weighed on the financial arena and siphoned some money away into safe-haven Treasury instruments. At 12:35 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 3.98, or 0.53% at 749.39. Large-cap index products were attracting more aggressive selling, with the Dow off 0.98% and the S&P 500 down 0.85%.

A weekend story in Barron’s intimating that the Treasury Department would have to recapitalize government-sponsored mortgage lending giants Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) at the detriment to current shareholders sparked a rout in mortgage financing stocks, with FNM tumbling 13% and FRE also down 13%. Credit default swaps on GSE, or government-sponsored enterprises, debt widened to record highs, which reflects unease with assuming paper on the firms.

The concerns about GSEs cascaded into the entire financial arena, with the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund down 2.7% and the PHLX KBW Banking Index down almost 3%. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LEH) tumbled nearly 4% following a report in The Wall Street Journal that the brokerage firm could post $1.8 billion losses and may pre-announce its earnings...

PMFG Inc. (Nasdaq:PMFG), North American Galvanizing & Coatings Inc. (Nasdaq:NGA) and Yucheng Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq:YTEC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.      

Also included among the results: Alto Palermo (Nasdaq:APSA), LECG Corp.(Nasdaq:XPRT), Salix Pharm (Nasdaq:SLXP), Encore Bancshares Inc (Nasdaq:EBTX), Berkshire Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BERK) and TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:TSYS).         

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:    

Shares of LECG Corp. (Nasdaq:XPRT) slid 11% this morning after a UBS analyst downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “buy.”

The Emeryville, Calif.-based global expert services firm is at $8.22 in late-morning trading, down $1.03 from Friday’s close. The stock has traded as low as $7.38 and as high as $18.16 in the past year.

For detailed price information and news stories on LECG, click XPRT.

Small-cap stocks had an up and down session, grappling with the promise of an upbeat private employment survey versus the reality of a sudden updraft in energy prices. In the end, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed up 4.31, or 0.60%, at 718.86.

Small-cap stocks and tech stocks noticeably lagged the Dow and S&P 500, both of which benefited more from a jump in financial and consumer product large caps as well as money moving into big energy names. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) rallied 4% as energy markets staged a sharp recovery rally.

Crude oil prices shot some $4 dollars a barrel higher today, reversing course from recent sharp declines. The buying frenzy was set off when the weekly inventory tally showed a surprising drop in gasoline stocks. While a boon to some energy stocks, the jump in crude prices sent a chill through the overall stock market.

On the financial side of things, large caps embraced news that the Federal Reserve would extend access to its primary dealer credit facility window through Jan. 30, which helps to access cheap money needed to combat the credit crunch and raise low-cost capital amid debt write-downs. In addition, President Bush inked the rescue plan for mortgage financing firms, which will support Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE), as the two firms own or guarantee nearly 50% of the country’s $12 billion in home mortgage debt. While both FNM and FRE posted solid gains today, they finished well off the morning highs. The SEC also extended a short-selling curb through Aug. 12, so when you combine that with the Fed extending the credit facility and the White House stamping approval on GSE funding measures, it sends a pretty clear message that government officials want to stabilize the financial landscape. Investors could easily see through that message and as a result, several large-cap financial firms were attractive to buyers today. Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) was up 2%, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) up 3% and Citigroup (NYSE:C) up nearly 2%.

The day started off with an unexpected bullish surprise as the ADP Employment Report showed a stunning increase in non-farm payrolls of 9,000 jobs in July, which . . .

LECG Corporation (Nasdaq:XPRT) has shed 25% in today’s trading after reporting after Tuesday’s close that its second quarter net earnings had dropped. For the quarter ended June 30, net income was $2.6 million, or $0.10 per share, compared to $4.2 million, or $0.17 per share, in the same period a year ago. Revenues were $89.1 million, down from $92.6 million for the year-ago quarter.

“These results were largely a reflection of revenue softness in the US which was partially offset by a strong contribution from our international businesses. The revenue decline was particularly marked in our economics services segment, due to the lag between a number of large projects winding down and the ramping up of new engagements,” said CEO Michael Jeffery, in a statement.

At 2:10 p.m. ET, shares of the Emeryville, Calif.-based company are at $7.55, down $2.47 from Tuesday’s close. Trading volume is at more than 1.14 million shares, up from the average of about 124,000.

Silicon Motion Technology Corp (Nasdaq:SIMO), LandAmerica Financial Group Inc (Nasdaq:LFG) and Online Resources Corp (Nasdaq:ORCC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: LECG Corporation (Nasdaq:XPRT), Ultimate Software Group Inc (Nasdaq:ULTI), Asbury Auto GP Ord Shs (Nasdaq:ABG), ICT Group Inc (Nasdaq:ICTG), Hanmi Financial (Nasdaq:HAFC) and Stewart Information Services Corp (Nasdaq:STC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) is soaring on news of surprisingly strong January U.S. retail sales.

At 1:02 p.m. ET, the small-cap index had added 10.33 points, or 1.46%, to 715.81. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) was up 97.38 points, or 0.79%, to 12,470.79.

Wall Street is enjoying a lift as news of better-than-expected U.S. retail sales in January relaxes fears of a recession.

Retail sales rose 0.3% to $382.9 billion in January, the U.S. Commerce Department reported before the start of trading. The results beat economists’ forecast of a 0.2% decline and represent an improvement over December’s 0.4% drop.

Sales excluding autos also increased 0.3%, more than the projected 0.2%. Sales excluding gasoline rose just 0.1%.

The numbers are good news for those worried that a pullback in consumption that will send the economy into recession. Consumer spending is about 70% of U.S. gross domestic product.

Breaking down the data, furniture sales fell, as did sales of electronics. Department store sales also declined, while sales of motor vehicles and parts increased.

A report by the Commerce Department after the opening bell said that business inventories climbed by a greater-than-expected 0.6% in December, while business sales fell 0.5%.

LECG Corp. (Nasdaq: XPRT), lowered fourth-quarter earnings and revenue guidance due to a restructuring charge from the completion of the company’s recovering value plan and a loss associated with the divestment of its subsidiary, Silicon Valley Expert Witness Group.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2007, the provider of economic and financial analysis, expert testimony, litigation support and strategic management consulting said it now expects to clock a loss per share in the range of $0.10 to $0.11, which includes restructuring charges of $0.16 per share associated with the completion of the company's recovering value plan and a loss from the disposition of it subsidiary of $0.08 per share.

Excluding these charges, the small cap forecasts a profit in the range of $0.13 to $0.14 per share, down from a previously projected range of $0.24 to $0.26 per share.

The variance in income per share compared with guidance is a direct result of the revenue shortfall, according to LECG.

Fourth-quarter revenues are now estimated to be in the range of $87 million to $89 million, which excludes $2.7 million in revenues from the company's subsidiary that was divested on Dec. 31, 2007. Including revenue from discontinued operations, total revenues for the quarter are estimated to be in the range of $90 million to $92 million, still down from LECG’s previous revenue outlook of $95 million to $98 million.

The consensus of two analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for earnings of $0.25 per share on revenues of $95.73 million.

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

Small-cap stocks are poised for a bullish opening following news that durable goods orders for December increased more than expected.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that orders for durable goods rose 5.2% in December. That’s more than the projected increase of 2.1% and above the revised growth of 0.5% in November. The data for November originally showed a decline of 0.1%.

The numbers also show that orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, a key measure of business equipment spending, added 4.4% after posting a decline of 0.2% in November.

Investors will be awaiting data on consumer confidence in December, to be released by the Conference Board at 10 a.m. ET.

The statistics will also be watched by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which kicks off a two-day policy meeting. An announcement will be made on Wednesday, with most observers expecting the Fed to lower its target interest rate.

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:

• TBS International Ltd. (TBSI), up 8%.
• Medivation, Inc. (MDVN), up 6% on Monday’s news that it plans to start a Phase III trial of an Alzheimer’s drug.
• Ness Technologies, Inc. (NSTC), up 5% on news it has signed a settlement deal in a long-running arbitration case.

Biggest percentage losers:

• LECG Corp. (XPRT), down 19% on news of a fourth-quarter net loss.
• ICU Medical, Inc. (ICUI), down 16% on news of a decline in fourth-quarter profit.
• NightHawk Radiology Holdings, Inc. (NHWK), down 13% despite news of a rise in preliminary year-end net income.

Pericom Semiconductor (Nasdaq: PSEM), First Consulting Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCGI) and Polypore International, Inc. (NYSE: PPO) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $500 million.

Here are today's biggest percentage gainers: