Volume Spike Investor

Small and mid-cap names in the oil patch are getting hit hard this morning, with crude now below $70 and the broad market down more than 2% percent. Whiting Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: WLL) stands out, down about 9% on unusually high volume compared to a typical morning, as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern. And shallow-water drilling specialist Hercules Offshore Inc. (HERO) is down 12% on fairly strong morning volume. Smaller names such as Rex Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: REXX), down 12%, China North East Petroleum Holdings (AMEX: NEP), down 11%, and Northern Oil and Gas Inc. (AMEX: NOG), also down 11%, are getting hit hardest. — Mike Tarsala