CVR Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:CVI), Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE) and Western Refining Inc. (Nasdaq:WNR) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Mitcham Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:MIND), Stillwater Mining Co. (Nasdaq:SWC), Cosan Ltd. (Nasdaq:CZZ), New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:NHTB), Daktronics Inc. (Nasdaq:DAKT) and Clinical Data Inc. (Nasdaq:CLDA).

"Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC) is not for the faint at heart," cautions growth stock expert Brandon Clay, noting the stock's volatility.

However, he adds, in Invest with an Edge, "If you can stomach the volatility this stock could be a big winner." Here, the advisor looks at the platinum and palladium mining company.

"Discovered in 1803,  palladium would eventually be used in everything from tuberculosis treatments to multilayer ceramic capacitors; jewelers, photographers, artists, and every auto manufacturer later employed this versatile metal.

"Along with platinum, palladium is an essential component in the catalytic converters that transform most of the harmful greenhouse gasses emitted by automobiles into harmless carbon, nitrogen, and water.

"It would be impossible for catalytic converters to efficiently operate without palladium. As China continues to outpace the United States in auto manufacturing, palladium resources are tapped.

"Recently, China hit an all time high of 1.11 million sales, despite the global slowdown. This means sustained palladium demand.

"In addition to known uses, palladium has promise for the not-so-distant future. And once considered-junk science, new researchers are exploring cold fusion possibilities again -- made possible by palladium rods.

"Granted, this technology is years from market, but it shows how versatile palladium is - and how valuable it could become.

"Stillwater Mining Company has rights to the largest known palladium deposit in the US. The company mines palladium, platinum, and similar metals in the Stillwater Mine near Nye, Montana.

"They are the only significant palladium producer in the Western Hemisphere; their competition consists mainly of Russian and South African . . .

Small-cap stocks remained in negative territory into mid-session, pressured by worries about corporate profitability in a sluggish economic environment around the world. Today’s small-cap gainers are Russ Berrie (NYSE:RUS), Clear Channel Outdoor  (NYSE:CCO) and Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE:HPT).

Other Market Watch highlights today included:

• As for the insurers, analysts at Goldman Sachs lowered ratings on the group and the S&P Insurance Index was down 6% at midday.  
• Real estate services are getting hammered today, as are tire, rubber and automobile manufacturers, wireless telecoms and insurance stocks.  
• The only area showing decent strength is agriculture products.
• Crude oil prices tumbled to 20-month lows today, slipping below $59 a barrel, which kept energy and commodity stocks on the defensive.  
• Credit futures are near contract highs, with European bond futures making contract highs today, which shows that money flow is into credit instruments, not equities.  

Small Cap Gainers:

• Russ Berrie reports Q3 results; shares pop 30%. See (NYSE:RUS).  
• Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings up 25% despite being downgraded to "market perform." See (NYSE:CCO).  
• Hospitality Properties Trust reported solid third-quarter earnings and rose 16%. See (NYSE:HPT).
• MGIC Investment Corp. up 12% in lower-than-average volume. See (NYSE:MTG).  
• Hill International up 9% after being honored as "Construction Management Firm of the Year" by the Developers & Builders Alliance. See (NYSE:HIL).  

Small Cap Losers:

• Bidz.com Inc. shed 35% after the online retailer slashed the full-year outlook, a numbing concept into the key holiday shopping season. See (Nasdaq:BIDZ).  
• Stillwater Mining warns it will not break even on PGM mining without operational changes; shares dive 30%. See (NYSE:SWC).  
• PHH Corp. on Monday reported a wider Q3 loss; shares still reeling, down 25% today. See (NYSE:PHH).  
• Strategic Hotels reports net loss last week, shares down 9% today. See (NYSE:BEE).  

Community Valley Bancorp (Nasdaq:CVLL), Monarch Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:MNRK) and Nobel Learning Communities Inc. (Nasdaq:NLCI) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Secure Computing Corp. (Nasdaq:SCUR), Minefinders Corporation Ltd. (Nasdaq:MFN), Diamond Management & Technology Consultants Inc. (Nasdaq:DTPI), Stillwater Mining Co. (Nasdaq:SWC), United Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:UBCP) and Elbit Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq:EMITF).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers 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: