Russell 2000 futures flat
The Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM) futures are a whisker above the index’s closing level on Friday and small-cap stocks are set for a flat holiday opening.
News of corporate deal-making is grabbing the headlines this morning, as International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) announced that it will buy Cognos Inc. (TSE: CSN), a maker of business intelligence software, for $5 billion.
Meanwhile, online broker E*Trade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: ETFC) was downgraded by Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) and the possibility of bankruptcy was raised.
No major economic indicators are scheduled for release today and trading volume promises to be light as Americans observe Veterans Day.
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:
• Shengdatech Inc. (SDTH), up 9% on news of a rise in third-quarter profit.
• VASCO Data Security International Inc. (VDSI), up 8% on news it is expanding its product offerings.
• Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJI), up 7% on news of a rise in fiscal second-quarter profit.
Biggest percentage losers:
• Perceptron Inc. (PRCP), down 42%.
• General Communication Inc. (GNCMA) down 8%.
• GPC Biotech AG (GPCB) down 8%.
