Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. (Nasdaq:SHMR), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ACAD) and Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: China Yuchai International Ltd. (Nasdaq:CYD), CNinsure Inc. (Nasdaq:CISG), China TransInfo Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:CTFO), Brookfield Homes Corp (Nasdaq:BHS), Elron Electronic Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq:ELRN) and China Marine Food Group Ltd. (Nasdaq:CMFO).

Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Callaway Golf Co. (Nasdaq:ELY) and S&T Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq:STBA) are among the new 52-week lows in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

First Financial Service Corp. (Nasdaq:FFKY), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) and MAXXAM Inc. (Nasdaq:MXM) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Geokinetics Inc. (Nasdaq:GOK), Emergent Group Inc. (Nasdaq:LZR), Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:CCO), Patriot Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:PCX), ePlus Inc (Nasdaq:PLUS) and W Holding Co Inc. (Nasdaq:WHI).

Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) is the sole 52-week low on Monday's session.

Also included among the results: Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Alon USA Energy Inc. (Nasdaq:ALJ), DXP Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq:DXPE), DrdGold ADR (Nasdaq:DROOY), Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq:ABCB) and SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq:SIVB).

Small-cap stocks pushed higher in early trading Wednesday, supported by scattered bargain hunting after the big downside press Tuesday on disappointment over a lack of details in the bank rescue plan. Bank, financial and commodity stocks were among the leaders on the early rise today after getting battered Tuesday. At 9:53 a.m. ET, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) was up 5.41, or 1.21%, at 451.17.

Investors will continue to keep a close eye on developments out of Washington today, with hearings slated on the first distribution of the TARP funds, ongoing banter about the stimulus plan and any “damage control” following Tuesday’s messy response to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s rollout of the bank bail out package.

The MBA Mortgage Applications Index fell 24.5% in this week’s report, slipping back to the lowest level since November. The purchase sub-index was down 9.8% to the lowest level since December 2000 and this decline in mortgage activity took place even though mortgage rates actually edged slightly lower in the latest week.

“Despite this week's decline in fixed mortgage rates, mortgage rates have drifted higher since the beginning of the year,” Steven Wood, chief economist with Insight Economics, said in an email. “As a result, mortgage activity has collapsed since the first of the year. Moreover, these data are for applications, not approvals; anecdotal evidence indicates that fall out rates are running as high as 50% so the actual effects on economic activity are far weaker than these data indicate. The housing market is still mired in a deep recession with no indication that a bottom has yet been reached,” Wood said.

In addition to the MBA report, the monthly trade report was released and showed the smallest trade gap in nearly six years, but that gap was still a tad bigger than expected. The report reflected the lowest auto import figure in some 10 . . .

First M&F Corp. (Nasdaq:FMFC), Alto Palermo SA (Nasdaq:APSA) and General Cable Corp. (Nasdaq:BGC) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday morning's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $2 billion.

Firstbank Corp. (Nasdaq:FBMI), Methanex Corp. (Nasdaq:MEOH) and Patriot Coal Corp. (Nasdaq:PCX) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: GT Solar International Inc. (Nasdaq:SOLR), Miller Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:MLR), Central Pacific Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CPF), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Ashland Inc. (Nasdaq:ASH) and Hill International Inc. (Nasdaq:HIL).

Gladstone Capital Corp. (Nasdaq:GLAD), Universal Technical Institute Inc. (Nasdaq:UTI) and Mueller Water Products Inc. (Nasdaq:MWA) are among the biggest percentage losers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Taylor Capital Group Inc. (Nasdaq:TAYC), Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), Dolan Media Co. (Nasdaq:DM), Bristow Group Inc. (Nasdaq:BRS), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) and WMS Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:WMS).

Cypress Bioscience Inc (Nasdaq:CYPB), National Interstate Corp (Nasdaq:NATL) and TF Financial Corp (Nasdaq:THRD) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Thursday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Union Bankshares Inc (Nasdaq:UNB), Timberland Bancorp Inc (Nasdaq:TSBK), RF Industries Ltd (Nasdaq:RFIL), Hiland Partners LP (Nasdaq:HLND), Elbit Imaging Ltd (Nasdaq:EMITF) and California Pizza Kitchen Inc (Nasdaq:CPKI).

Spartech Corp. (Nasdaq:SEH), Lacrosse Footwear Inc. (Nasdaq:BOOT) and Cabot Corp. (Nasdaq:CBT) are among the biggest percentage losers in Tuesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: SuccessFactors Inc. (Nasdaq:SFSF), Perry Ellis International Inc. (Nasdaq:PERY), Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (Nasdaq:APL), Lindsay Corp. (Nasdaq:LNN), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) and SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq:SIVB).

Calgon Carbon Corp. (Nasdaq:CCC), Silicon Graphics Inc. (Nasdaq:SGIC) and Oneida Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ONFC) are among the biggest percentage losers in Monday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: Rubicon Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:RBCN), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB), Medicines Co. (Nasdaq:MDCO), Phoenix Co Inc. (Nasdaq:PNX), Medicines Co. (Nasdaq:MDCO) and HealthSouth Corp. (Nasdaq:HLS).

Here are the biggest percentage losers among small caps:

Starrett LS Co. (Nasdaq:SCX), Union Bankshares Inc. (Nasdaq:UNB) and PeopleSupport Inc. (Nasdaq:PSPT) are among the biggest percentage gainers in Wednesday's trading among companies with market capitalizations under $1 billion.

Also included among the results: NewStar Financial Inc. (Nasdaq:NEWS), Oneida Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:ONFC), Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq:SNTA), CBL & Associates REIT (Nasdaq:CBL), Nelnet Inc. (Nasdaq:NNI) and Cheniere Energy Partners L P (Nasdaq:CQP).

Here are the biggest percentage gainers among small caps: