Volume Spike Investor

Small-cap troubled biotech stocks can still see massive moves when it looks like hope is again there.  La Jolla Pharmaceuticals Co. (NASDAQ: LJPC) is proof in the after-hours trading.  After signing a pact with BioMarin (NASDAQ: BMRN), shares are up over 100% after the close.  This is a very thin volume stock, so we do not hold the initial prices as anything set in stone.  This stock was down as much as 90% until recently, so this could be the big price changer tomorrow in the biotech sector.

Shares are up at $2.00 after closing at $0.75.  Just keep in mind that the spread is as wide a house and shares were halted initially on the news.

FULL DETAILS of the pact……

Jon C. Ogg
January 6, 2009

We are seeing a sharp rise in the volume of solar power stocks this morning.  Unfortunately, it is to the downside despite some peers holding up on the news.  LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK) issued a warning for Q4 and for 2009 revenues and margins, and you can see the full description of their warning.  LDK shares are down 10% at $13.28 in pre-market trading on about 98,000 shares traded as of 9:01 AM EST.  Here is how peers are trading this morning:

• Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) are actually UP marginally at $158.00 on about 25,000 shares.
• Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is now up 0.4% at $7.07 on about 4,200 shares.
• JA Solar Holdings Co. (NASDAQ: JASO) shares are down almost 3% at $4.95 on 51,000 shares.
• Evergreen Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLR) is down 0.5% at $3.58 on 31,000 shares.
• Solarfun Power Holdings (NASDAQ: SOLF) is down almost 1% at $6.05 on 14,000 shares.

Jon C. Ogg
January 6, 2009

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is gapping up on word that Steve Jobs issued a statement clarifying his health and the reasons he is not delivering the keynote speech at Macworld today.  Shares are up 3% at $93.47 one minute before the open this morning on rather strong volume.  With shares reacting to every comment at Macworld in the past, you might as well expect that the volatility could swing both ways this afternoon.

FULL SYNOPSIS from 24/7 Wall St.

Jon C. Ogg
January 5, 2009

Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: EPIX) did something crazy today, even for a micro-cap, even for a quiet market, and even for FDA news.  Its Vasovist imaging agent for magnetic resonance angiography was approved for use in detecting narrow or blocked blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the heart.  Vasovist is already marketed in 34 countries outside the United States.

Shares more than tripled to $1.20 on more than 4.5 million shares, and its 52-week trading range is $0.21 to $4.41. Its average daily volume is only about 185,000 shares, so this is on roughly 25-times volume.  This was also in the last hour or so of trading.

Its market cap at the close was only $50 million, and that is AFTER the run-up.

Sometimes stocks go nuts when there are few issues elsewhere to focus on.

JON OGG
DEC. 22, 2008 (4:01PM EST)

Baidu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) is surging after the stock rating was raised to the CONVICTION BUY LIST at Goldman Sachs this morning with a 6-month price target of $145.00.

• FULL RESEARCH SUMMARY

Shares at 9:33 AM EST are up 9.9% at $129.91 after closing at $118.09 yesterday.  We have already seen more than 400,000 shares trade in justr a few minutes after the open.

Jon C. Ogg
December 16, 2008

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is getting hit this morning in pre-market trading.  The iPod, iPhone, and iMac maker saw its shares cut to Neutral from Buy with a new price target of $115.00 at Goldman Sachs.

• Full summary details of the downgrade.

Shares are down less than 2% pre-market at $96.40 with about 230,000 shares having traded hands as of 9:13 AM EST.  Its 52-week trading range is $79.14 to $202.96.

Jon C. Ogg
December 15, 2008

Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ) won a recommendation from the FDA advisory committee unanimously recommending approval of Genzyme’s Synvisc-one for osteoarthritis in the knee. Shares are indicated up almost 3% at $65.00. Just keep in mind that its market cap is now $17 billion.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXA) announced that its AZ-004, an inhalation product candidate for the acute treatment of agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, met the primary endpoint of treating acute agitation in patients with bipolar disorder in Phase III Trial. Shares closed down 2.5% at $1.45 yesterday, but shares were up 9% at $1.58 last night. There has been no trading yet, but this sounded like important news for a small cap with a $47 million market cap.

Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) entered purchase agreement of InterBank FSB under CPP and TARP plan. The troubled financial stock is indicated up 19% at $2.88 after closing up 8% at $2.41 in regular trading yesterday.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) is being pressured by holders now to sell its search business to Microsoft. The belief is that this could generate something to the tune of $15 billion, although Microsoft as last bidder may not want to pay that much. Shares are up almost 4% pre-market at $12.65.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) is down again after the company gave its second implied earnings warning in lass than six weeks. The stock looks down another 10% to $17.25 or so in trading indications and that is on top of an 11.5% drop in the regular trading day on Tuesday.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARNA) ended the development of its insomnia drug after it failed to meet Phase IIb primary endpoints. Shares closed down over 5% at $3.62 yesterday, yet are down another 14% to $3.11 in pre-market trading. Sounds like management didn’t get much sleep either……

American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) is in a pickle…. It is rare to see analysts start a company with a SELL rating, but this morning we had both Citigroup and Banc of America issue new SELL ratings in new coverage of the credit card issuer. Shares are down 4% at $22.30 in early trading.

JON OGG

December 10, 2008 (8:37 AM EST)

Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) is trading down about 6% pre-market to around $35.30 on over 150,000 shares as of 7:37 AM EST.  It seems that woes of Palm Inc. (PALM) after its own warning are not isolated.

The maker of the Blackberry smartphones lowered its revenue projections down to a range of $2.75 to $2.78 billion, lower than the previously range of $2.95 to $3.10 billion.

Oddly enough, RIMM was not participating that much in rallies over the last ten days.  This may mark 52-week lows as the 52-week trading range was $35.76 to $148.13.

Jon C. Ogg
December 3, 2008

Xenoport (NASDAQ: XNPT) said that results from a Phase 2 clinical trial of XP19986 as a treatment for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were generally well tolerated.  Unfortunately, the study results of the primary analysis comparing XP19986 to the placebo did not reach statistical significance.

Shares are getting crushed on this.  Shares are at new 52-week lows at $18.10 with 20 minutes until the market opens.  Shares are down 37% from yesterday’s $28.92 close.  This is also a new near-term low as the 52-week trading range is $26.37 to $66.34.

We have also seen 270,000 shares trade hands, and the average daily volume is 314,000 shares.  Expect this one to have an exponential volume day today.

Jon C. Ogg
December 2, 2008

Solarfun Power Holdings (NASDAQ: SOLF) is being hit pretty hard pre-market on disappointing earnings.  Shares are doiwn almost 14% at $4.05 with 23 minutes until the market opens.  We have seen over 50,000 shares trade hands, and it trades more than 2 million shares per day.  Its 52-week trading range is $2.67 to $40.19.

JON OGG

DEC. 2, 2008