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. Today's small-cap gainers are Mentor Corp. (NYSE:MNT), Qimonda (NYSE:QI) and General Growth (NYSE:GGP).

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).  

Small-cap stocks took a dive on the opening as the optimism that drove a sterling three-day rally abated amid a backlash from sobering economic data and a fresh batch of downbeat corporate forecasts. However, tech stocks were surprisingly firm today, which helped the overall market bounce off the morning lows. Some of today’s small-cap gainers are Qimonda (NYSE:QI), American Railcar Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:ARII) and Holly Corp. (NYSE:HOC).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• Weekly inventory data later this morning could spark a move in energy markets.  
• Crude oil prices jumped higher into the stock market open, rising about $1.7 a barrel on hope that the China rate cut would help bolster demand from that key customer.  
• The U.S. dollar was up against the euro this morning, rising about 0.8% and was flat against the yen.  
• Japan’s massive auto manufacturing firm, Toyota, saw its credit rating lowered for the first time in a decade.

Small Cap Gainers:

• Qimonda up 40% after closing Inotera share deal with Micron. See (NYSE:QI).  
• American Railcar Industries Inc. is up 10% as the railcar manufacturer continues to climb off 52-week lows forged last week. See (Nasdaq:ARII).  
• Holly Corp. to replace LandAmerica Financial Group in the S&P SmallCap 600. Shares of Holly are trading 6% higher. See (NYSE:HOC).  
• Forest Oil up 5% after completing $200M asset sales. See (NYSE:FST). 

Small Cap Losers:

• Andersons Inc. was down 27% as the agriculture company revised earnings downward. See (Nasdaq:ANDE).  
• Conn’s Inc. was off 13% as the specialty retailer reported earnings. See (Nasdaq:CONN).
• Thomas & Betts lowers 4Q earnings forecast; shares tumble 11%. See (NYSE:TNB).
• Kayne Anderson is down another 10% today after giving an update on leverage ratios earlier this week. See (NYSE:KYN).