Small caps see worst day of 2008; MNT, PGI and TLVT lead gainers
The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 11.85% today, snapping a string of five consecutive winning sessions with the worst daily loss of the year. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Mentor Corp. (NYSE:MNT), Premiere Global Services (NYSE:PGI) and Telvent (Nasdaq:TLVT).
Other Market Watch highlights today included:
• The Russell is now down 46% for 2008, while the Dow is down 39% and the S&P 500 is down 44%.
• Credit market safe havens were the preferred outlet of choice today, as investors fled stocks and sought refuge in Treasuries.
• The market got off on the wrong foot today when manufacturing data out of China reflected a big drop in new orders.
• The ISM Manufacturing Survey came in at 36.2, which was below the 38 forecast, and which was also the lowest reading in 26 years.
• Sub-index data on prices paid was the lowest in 59 years and the new orders sub-index was the lowest since 1980.
• Energy, commodity stocks were major decliners today. Crude prices plunged 9.4% to $49.28/barrel, pulling down energy shares in the wash.
• Industrial, precious metals took a beating, platinum was down 7%, palladium down nearly 10%, silver off more than 8% and gold down some 5%.
Small Cap Gainers:
• The biggest mover today was Mentor Corp. (NYSE:MNT), as the maker of breast implants shot some 90% higher on news that the firm would be purchased by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) for $31 a share.
• Premiere Global Services Inc. (NYSE:PGI) rallied 29% as the on-demand . . .
Manufacturing worries capsize recent rally; largest 1-day loss of 2008
Small-cap stocks may have finished out November like a lamb, but they started out December like a lion, sinking hard and fast today in an abrupt about-face from last week’s strong upward surge. Slumping manufacturing reports around the world triggered today’s rout and the only safe place to park money was in credit instruments as financial, industrial, retail and commodity markets were in retreat mode. The Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) closed down 56.05, or 11.85%, at 417.09, snapping a string of five consecutive winning sessions with the worst daily loss of the year. The Russell is now down 46% for 2008, while the Dow is down 39% and the S&P 500 is down 44%.
Credit market safe havens were the preferred outlet of choice today, as investors fled stocks and sought refuge in Treasuries – especially after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the Fed could buy long-dated Treasuries and that the economy remained under considerable stress. He also said that the Fed’s scope for reducing rates to stimulate growth was limited at this point, but that the U.S. economy was now better equipped to deal with the credit crisis. Yields on benchmark 10-year notes went wild, sinking more than 7% at one point during the day to about 2.7% as strong demand for notes lifted the price and slashed yields. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said that recent bailout moves were making progress, that banks should increase lending habits and that he has more programs developing to boost lending. He also said that mortgage rates have not come down as much as hoped and that Americans know the economy is in recession. The market extended the afternoon sell-off as he spoke.
The market got off on the wrong foot today when manufacturing data out of China reflected a big drop in new orders. China is the world’s hub for labor, with widgets assembled there and shipped out around the globe. Then, manufacturing reports out of Europe were dour, setting the stage for a startlingly bad report on manufacturing activity here in the United States. The ISM Manufacturing Survey came in at 36.2, which was below the 38 forecast, and which was also the lowest reading in 26 years. What’s more, sub-index data on prices paid was the lowest in 59 years and the new orders sub-index was the lowest since 1980. This is a heavy week for economic data, and today’s numbers clearly sent an icy shudder through the market. As the week progresses, we’ll see data on vehicle sales, services sector activity, factory orders and weekly claims as we head toward Friday’s big monthly employment release. What’s more, we’ll also have weekly and monthly retail sales numbers to pour over, . . .
December starts out dreary for small-cap stocks; MNT, QI, and GGP lead gainers
Today's Market Watch highlights included:
• From a money flow perspective, investors appeared to be fleeing stocks for safe-haven outlets in the credit markets.
• The dollar was up about 0.5% against the euro, which also weighed on commodity prices.
• Energy stocks were also an early drag on the market, taking a cue from sinking crude oil prices, which were down $4 this morning.
• The construction spending report was pegged at minus 1.2%, also below the projection for a dip of 0.9%.
Small Cap Gainers:
• Johnson & Johnson to buy Mentor Corp., which is leaping about 90% in pre-market. See (NYSE:MNT).
• Qimonda up about 30% in pre-market, reports progress on partner talks, delays results. See (NYSE:QI).
• General Growth pops 34% in pre-market after receiving loan extension. See (NYSE:GGP).
Small Cap Losers:
• Union Drilling Inc. is off 22% as the natural gas driller tumbled with other energy names such as Patriot Coal Corp, down 14%. See (Nasdaq:UDRL) and (NYSE:PCX).
• Teekay Tankers Ltd. is down 12%, correcting lower after a huge rally day Friday. See (NYSE:TNK).
• Solarfun Power Holdings down over 8% in pre-market as energy, solar stocks are all seeing steep declines before the bell. See (Nasdaq:SOLF).
• UAL Corp. is down 6% after the airline filed a mixed shelf to offer securities. See (Nasdaq:UAUA).
Huge opening rout as manufacturing shudders worldwide
Small-cap stocks started out the new month with a bearish bang, sinking hard amid gloomy manufacturing data around the world, which weighed on industrial and commodity stocks. At 10:03 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was down 23.79, or 5.03%, at 449.35.
The dour tone on manufacturing started in Asia, where new orders for China’s manufacturing sector fell hard, stirring worries about the global recession. Then, the worries followed through to Europe and finally here to the United States, as the ISM Manufacturing Survey came in at 36.2, which was below the forecast of 38.0. In addition, the construction spending report was pegged at minus 1.2%, also below the projection for a dip of 0.9%.
Energy stocks were also an early drag on the market, taking a cue from sinking crude oil prices. The market for “black gold” was off nearly $4 a barrel this morning, pummeled by news that OPEC said they would wait to make a decision on further supply cuts and also by the troubling economic news around the globe.
The dollar was up about 0.5% against the euro, which also weighed on commodity prices this morning. Copper and aluminum prices were lower in Asian trading as those markets react to the China manufacturing news. Within the commodity realm, Brazilian stocks were off some 3% early today, as that country is heavily dependent on commodity exports.
Investors will be looking for news about how the holiday shopping season is moving along. The early returns seem positive for the “Black Friday” kickoff of the season after last Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day holiday, but the way the market is trading today suggests there might be some hidden weakness in those returns. Today is known as “Cyber Monday” as consumers scan the Internet for holiday bargains, and any feel for those returns could also be important as the day progresses.
From a money flow perspective, investors appeared to be fleeing stocks for safe-haven outlets in the credit markets. European bund futures hit contract highs . . .
Steep opening slide seen with Europe down, China orders slump
The slump in China orders and pullback in European manufacturing comes just ahead of manufacturing reports in the United States this morning, with the ISM Manufacturing Survey and Construction Spending reports set for release at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Copper and aluminum prices tumbled in Asian trading after the weak China manufacturing data, which could spill over into U.S. action this morning, weighing on commodity-themed stocks. Speaking of commodities, crude oil prices were off some 4% overnight, which should pressure energy shares.
Amid all the bearish talk this morning, one bright spot for small-caps is that Mentor Corp. (NYSE:MNT), a supplier of breast implants and other aesthetic goods, will . . .
CTS, Theravance and Texas Industries lead small-cap percentage gainers
Also included among the results: Commonwealth Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:CWBS), ATA Inc. (Nasdaq:ATAI), China East Air Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:CEA), Blyth Inc. (Nasdaq:BTH), Mentor Corp. (Nasdaq:MNT) and PHH Corp. (Nasdaq:PHH).
Lincoln Bancorp, SeaBright Insurance Holdings and Mentor among 52-week lows
Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:
