GT Solar International, Inc. creates manufacturing equipment, often for the production of solar wafers and solar cells.

-Michael B. Sauter

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is trading higher after it announced last night that it was closing down its MARTIN+OSA concept store brand.  Shares actually rose on the news. American Eagle’s profit rose this morning and the outlook is allowing shares to hold their own.  At 8:36 AM EST we have shares still up 4.6% at $17.95 on 314,000 shares.  The 52-week trading range is $8.79 to $19.86.

American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) is managing to continue yesterday’s gains.  The stock at 8:38 AM EST is up 2.75% at $33.67 on almost 500,000 shares.  This is on the heels of yesterday’s gains to $32.77 versus the Monday close of $29.10.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is up on two bits of news.  Apollo is reportedly about to purchase Citi’s real estate unit called Property Investors, with about 65 real estate investments in 26 countries and the net asset value is said to be $3.5 billion. Its preferred 8.875% $2 billion offering was also oversubscribed.  At 8:40 AM EST we have shares up 2.9% at $3.93 and we have already seen a whopping 60 million shares trade hands with 50 minutes until the open.  Be advised, Citi traded over 1 billion shares yesterday and the stock closed at $3.82 versus a close of $3.56 on Monday.

Facet Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ: FACT) is up about 66% at $26.96 after its $27/share cash buyout has been signed with Abbott.  At 8:35 AM EST we have seen 9 million shares trade hands.  The deal is approved by both companies, and it seems unlikely that a higher bid would come in even from Biogen Idec.

Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) are continuing yesterday’s run higher despite the notion that some of the financial rumors were all but shot down by analysts and market pundits.  Fannie Mae is up 3.7% at $1.11 on 1.2 million shares; Freddie Mac shares are up 1.5% at $1.30 on 900,000 shares (8:42 AM EST).

GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) priced a secondary offering of 25 million shares of common stock at $4.85 per share versus a $5.15 close on Tuesday.  The sale is being made by a selling stockholder rather than the firm raising capital.  Shares are down 2.3% at $5.03, but the 8:35 AM EST trading volume is 567,000 shares.  This one trades just over 1 million shares per day and the 52-week trading range is $3.63 to $9.04.

InterMune Inc. (NASDAQ: ITMN) is launching after the FDA panel backed its lung drug.  This is a 52-week high as the prior 52-week range was $10.48 to $25.37.  At 8:35 AM EST we have shares up 64% at $38.17 on right at 1 million shares in the pre-market.  We saw a similar move last night after the halt was taken off.

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JON C. OGG

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR)  $155.38 (+$21.40)
Day’s Range: $135.65 to $158.49; 52wk Range: $85.28 to $317.00
Volume:    5,305,547; Avg Vol: 4.1 million

LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK) $8.35  +$2.46; +41.77%)
Day’s Range: $6.20 to $8.47; 52wk-Range: $3.75 to $52.40
Volume:    8,962,559
Avg Vol: 2.2 million

SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) $27.81 (+$3.77; +15.68%)
Day’s Range: $24.91 to $29.73; 52wk-Range: $18.50 to $107.00
Volume:    3,455,101; Avg Vol: 2.1 million

Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy (NYSE: TAN) $7.36 (+$1.18; +19.09%)
Day’s Range: $6.25 to $7.56; 52wk-Range: $4.65 to $30.79
Volume:    1,097,490; Avg Vol: 333,459

GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) $5.72 (+$0.84; +17.37%)
Day Range: $5.00 to $5.86; 52wk-Range: $0.88  to $14.45
Volume:    1,445,524; Avg Vol.: 751,000

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) $11.69 (+$3.84, 48.92%)
Day Range: $8.25 to $11.99; 52wk-Range: $5.09 to $51.75
Volume:    15,707,293; Avg Vol: 2.9 million

• First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) $92.81 close, $98.00 last, +5.6% on 23,000 shares.
• GT Solar (NASDAQ: SOLR) $2.49 close, $2.86 last, +14.86% on 4,100 shares.
• JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) $2.10 close, $2.24 last, +6.67% on 26,877 shares.
• Solarfun Poper Holdings (NASDAQ: SOLF) $3.25 close, $3.80 last, +16.92% on 19,215 shares.

Jon C. Ogg
November 24, 2008

Jon C. Ogg
November 6, 2008

As of 5:10 PM EST, we have seen a 6.6% gain to %15.00 on more than 470,000 shares traded since the 4:00 PM closing bell.

JON OGG

August 26, 2008

At 9:48 AM EST we have already seen over 5 million shares trade hands and stock is down almost 30% at $10.30. It traded as low as $9.30 this morning, after pricing at $16.50 yesterday. Ouch.

Jon Ogg
July 25, 2008