Virtus Investment Partners Inc. (Nasdaq:VRTS), Bridge Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BDGE) and AsiaInfo Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:ASIA) are among the new 52-week highs in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Clearwater Paper Corp. (Nasdaq:CLW), Pervasive Software Inc. (Nasdaq:PVSW), Smith Micro Software Inc. (Nasdaq:SMSI), STEC Inc. (Nasdaq:STEC), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and ESB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ESBF).

Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (Nasdaq:PLCE), Orion Marine Group Inc. (Nasdaq:OMGI) and Ciena Corp. (Nasdaq:CIEN) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: SXC Health Solutions Corp. (Nasdaq:SXCI), DrdGold ADR (Nasdaq:DROOY), Fred's Inc. (Nasdaq:FRED), Sterling Construction Co Inc. (Nasdaq:STRL), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and Genesco Inc. (Nasdaq:GCO).

Stocks started off this four-day trading week in grim fashion, as sour U.S. manufacturing data did little to ease investor fears that the recession will let up anytime soon. Add to that today’s news that the SEC charged Houston-based Stanford Financial Group with massive alleged fraud involving a multibillion-dollar investment scheme, and today’s potent cocktail sent small caps tumbling 17.05, or 3.80%, to 431.31. The Dow fell 3.25%, while the S&P 500 careened 4.08%. The major indices closed at or near the day’s lows.

For the year, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) is down 14.13%, while the Dow is down 13.95% and the S&P 500 is down 12.63%.

Manufacturing in New York contracted in February at the fastest pace on record, falling to minus 34.65. Economists expected a reading of minus 24.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Chrysler were in a race to finish restructuring plans to present to the federal government today but seemed unlikely to complete deals with debtholders and union workers by the government-imposed deadline. The companies planned to submit the details to the Obama administration to illustrate that the two battered automakers can return to profitability. At the close, shares of GM were down a dizzying 13.6% to $2.16. The proposal is still being hammered out.

Today gold reigned supreme, hitting a seven-month high on economic concerns fueled by the weak manufacturing data. Gold rose to $966 per ounce, and briefly touched $971 per ounce during afternoon trading. Small-cap gold companies . . .

Retalix Ltd. (Nasdaq:RTLX), Minefinders Corp Ltd. (Nasdaq:MFN) and Iowa Telecommunications Services Inc. (Nasdaq:IWA) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Electro-Optical Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq:MELA), Rome Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:ROME), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), OSI Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:OSIS), Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:OREX) and BroadVision Inc. (Nasdaq:BVSN).

First M&F Corp. (Nasdaq:FMFC), Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:SVNT) and Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. (NYSE:HGR) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

Pan American Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:PAAS), John Bean Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq:JBT) and USG Corp. (Nasdaq:USG) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Friday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: IXYS Corp. (Nasdaq:IXYS), Silver Standard Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:SSRI), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Parkvale Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:PVSA), McMoRan Exploration Co. (Nasdaq:MMR) and ASA Ltd. (Nasdaq:ASA).

Quest Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:QELP), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and Landrys Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq:LNY) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Tortoise Energy Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:TYY), Targanta Therapeutics Corp. (Nasdaq:TARG), WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq:WBMD), Allscripts Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq:MDRX), PAB Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:PABK) and Primeenergy Corp. (Nasdaq:PNRG).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO),Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI) and Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) are among the new 52-week lows in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: ASA Ltd. (Nasdaq:ASA),Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN),Valhi Inc. (Nasdaq:VHI),Hallwood Group Inc. (Nasdaq:HWG),Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT) and Universal Forest Products Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPI).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (Nasdaq:SRZ) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WGO) are among the biggest percentage losers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Badger Meter Inc. (Nasdaq:BMI), Independence Holding Co. (Nasdaq:IHC), Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. (Nasdaq:ACFC), Temple-Inland Inc. (Nasdaq:TIN), Amcore Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:AMFI) and Interoil Corp. (Nasdaq:IOC).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Media General Inc. (Nasdaq:MEG), First Financial Service Corp. (Nasdaq:FFKY) and BCB Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:BCBP) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: YRC Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:YRCW), Dorman Products Inc. (Nasdaq:DORM), Zale Corp. (Nasdaq:ZLC), Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Nasdaq:LULU), SI Financial Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SIFI) and Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), NovaGold Resources Inc.(Nasdaq:NG) and Hoku Scientific Inc. (Nasdaq:HOKU) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Novogen Depository Receipt (Nasdaq:NVGN), Emcore Corp. (Nasdaq:EMKR), China Architectural Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq:CAEI), 4 Kids Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq:KDE), Somanetics Corp. (Nasdaq:SMTS) and Minefinders Corporation Ltd. (Nasdaq:MFN).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps:

Trico Marine Services Inc. (Nasdaq:TRMA), Minfinders Corp. (Nasdaq:MFN) and Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFM) are among the new 52-week lows in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Parallel Petroleum Corp. (Nasdaq:PLLL), BreitBurn Energy Partners L. P. (Nasdaq:BBEP), Macquarie Infrastructure Co LLC. (Nasdaq:MIC), Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co Inc. (Nasdaq:GAP), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and Global Sources Ltd. (Nasdaq:GSOL).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA), Reddy Ice Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:FRZ) and MAG Silver Corp. (Nasdaq:MVG) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFM), Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC (Nasdaq:MIC), Chindex International Inc. (Nasdaq:CHDX), Physicians Formula Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:FACE), Trico Marine Services Inc. (Nasdaq:TRMA) and North Central Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:FFFD).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

Pyramid Oil Co. (Nasdaq:PDO), Seabridge Gold Inc. (Nasdaq:SA) and Pacific Premier Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:PPBI) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Torch Energy Royalty Trust (Nasdaq:TRU), Jacksonville Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:JAXB), Ohio Legacy Corp. (Nasdaq:OLCB), James River Coal Co. (Nasdaq:JRCC), Thermadyne Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq:THMD) and Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. (Nasdaq:HOS).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Global Industries Ltd (Nasdaq:GLBL), Hughes Communications Inc (Nasdaq:HUGH) and Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners LP (Nasdaq:PSE) are among the new 52-week lows in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Comverge Inc (Nasdaq:COMV), Interline Brands Inc (Nasdaq:IBI), Core Molding Technologies Inc (Nasdaq:CMT), Stillwater Mining Co (Nasdaq:SWC), Seabridge Gold Inc (Nasdaq:SA) and Ohio Valley Banc Corp (Nasdaq:OVBC).

Here are the new 52-week lows among small caps:

The profit outlook has rarely been better for gold mining companies. Gold prices have risen from around $265 per ounce in 2001 to a peak of $725 in May 2006, a 25-year high, before retreating to a 2007 level of around $670 per ounce. Most industry analysts forecast continued increases in gold prices, fueled by demand for this metal in investment and technology applications, and some experts predict $1,000 per ounce gold prices by 2010.

Most of us associate gold with rings and other jewelry, and, indeed, jewelry applications are gold’s primary use, accounting for approximately two-thirds of annual gold consumption. The demand for gold in jewelry manufacturing applications is expected to remain firm because of rising jewelry sales in India and China.

Gold is also used in aerospace, electronics and healthcare applications. Demand from these sectors reached record levels of 458 tons in 2006, primarily on the strength of demand from electronics manufacturers. Gold is used in many types of electronic circuitry and is also increasingly employed in nanotechnology applications.

Gold and the U.S. dollar hold a dominant position in international finance. During periods of political and/or economic uncertainty gold prices generally rise. With the U.S. government reporting large trade imbalances and budget deficits, many foreign investors have begun purchasing gold as a hedge against long-term dollar depreciation. Investments in gold bars and coins grew 7% in tonnage terms and 45% in dollar terms in 2006. Gold’s value also rises when other investment classes such as stocks and bonds become especially volatile. Central banks and the International Monetary Fund influence world gold prices through their purchase and sale activities. While the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank holds 16% of its assets in gold, China’s central bank holds only about 1% of its assets in gold and is likely to increase gold stockpiles in the future. Gold acquisitions by central banks are expected to support rising gold prices.