Small caps step back on economy woes, bleak profit outlook
Small-cap stocks extended the morning rout into midday trading, pulled down by renewed worries about the economy following the worst decline in October retail sales on record, which only heightens fears about consumer spending moving into the key holiday season. At 2:16 p.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 4.29%, on target for the third-lowest daily close in more than five years and the lowest weekly close since August 2003 despite the dramatic recovery explosion from Thursday.
Energy and technology stocks were among the dominant drags on the market, with the Energy SPDR off nearly 5% and the tech-laden Nasdaq 100 down about 4.5%. Within the tech arena, anything tied to the cell phone business was getting hammered following Nokia’s warning that sales would fall far below expectations in coming months. Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) was down 12%, Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) was off 8% and QUALCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq:QCOM), the largest mobile phone chip maker, was down 6%.
Back on the commodities theme, crude oil prices were down about $1.60 a barrel, as worries about global demand persist. Despite the pullback on energy prices, commodities overall were hanging in there today, with the Commodity Research Bureau Index basically flat at mid-session. In general, commodities are way oversold and the U.S. dollar tone is mixed today (up versus euro, down versus yen).
As for retailers, today just isn’t pretty. The S&P Retail Index is down 6% and a host of name-brand companies released earnings today that were either disappointing, or even when solid for the third quarter reflected downward guidance for the coming quarter. Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE:JWN) was down 8%, JC Penney Company Inc. (NYSE:JCP) was down 9% and although the pain was intense for apparel oriented retailers, there was plenty of agony to go around; for instance, home improvement retailer Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:HD) was off 8% and electronics merchant Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE:BBY) was down 6%.
If the market weren’t coming off an astounding 8% rally Thursday, then today’s 5% tumble would seem quite a bit more bruising. It’s understandable to get a little numb from these wild index moves, but if you’re holding individual stocks that are getting hammered today, the pain is quite real.
As for individual small caps on the move, let’s start out with some companies that going higher even though the overall market is getting nailed. Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT), jumped 27%, as the banking transaction firm basically mounted a huge recovery off fresh lows etched Thursday. MYR Group Inc. (Nasdaq:MYRG) rose 18% on unusually heavy volume as the electrical contractor got a spark from solid earnings numbers. On the downside, Orient Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE:OEH) slumped 23% as the firm announced plans to issue nearly 8.5 million shares of stock to raise capital. Like much of the small-cap universe, investors in First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE:FR) decided Thursday’s leap higher was perhaps a little too much and the stock was off 22% today.
From a chart standpoint, there is mild support along the 464-467 zone; a breach there opens the window for a move down to 459 and beyond. On the upside, if the market can mount another miracle afternoon surge, then resistance will be at 482, 495 and 505.
