A huge sell-off was witnessed in the North American equity indices last week as investors ditched over valued stocks in favor of defensive plays like value stocks and treasury bonds and remained cautious about weak Chinese trade numbers. Disappointing earnings report from banking giant JPMorgan Chase also led the market to move south. Healthcare and biotechnology sector was hit hard during the week after registering big gains last year. The S&P 500 health care sector index dropped 4.03%, while the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ended in the red for the seventh-straight week losing 4.46% during the week. The Canadian healthcare index fell 5.45%.
This week investors will keep an eye on the U.S. retail sales data scheduled to be released on Monday April 14, while the U.S. housing starts data will be released on Wednesday, April 16. The Bank of Canada will make its next rate announcement on Wednesday and analysts expect the bank will leave its key rate unchanged at one percent.
Ubika Research has highlighted ten stocks across sectors which have recorded significant share price gains with over 100% increase in their traded volumes during the past five days compared with past one month daily average trading volumes, indicating a strong market interest. Moreover, these stocks outperformed their respective equity indices and sector indices during the week and majority of them are hovering around their 52-week highs. The shortlisted stocks recorded price gains ranging from 11% to 141% with daily average traded volume in excess of 100,000.
Index Performance during the Past Week (April 07th 2014 – April 11th 2014)
| Index |
Last Index Value |
Value Change (5-Day) |
Average Volume |
Average Volume |
Volume Comparison* |
|
S&P 500 Index |
1,815.7 |
-2.65% |
607,692,077 |
554,172,409 |
9.7% |
|
NASDAQ Composite Index |
3,999.7 |
-3.10% |
577,614,963 |
558,753,092 |
3.4% |
|
Russell 2000 Index |
1,111.4 |
-3.64% |
307,259,091 |
307,966,945 |
-0.2% |
|
S&P/TSX Composite Index |
14,257.7 |
-0.94% |
173,598,275 |
173,712,675 |
-0.1% |
|
S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index |
997.8 |
-0.93% |
64,773,106 |
73,407,897 |
-11.8% |
Stocks Performance
| Company Name |
Ticker |
Exchange |
Sector |
Market Cap |
Last Price |
Price Change (5-Day) |
Average Volume |
Average Volume |
Volume Comparison* |
52-Week High |
52-Week Low |
|
Vocus Inc |
VOCS |
NASDAQ |
Communications |
388.5 |
17.97 |
47.5% |
5,157,711 |
1,097,134 |
370.1% |
17.98 |
8.05 |
|
Raise Production Inc |
RPC |
TSXV |
Energy |
287.9 |
3.37 |
140.7% |
986,026 |
216,822 |
354.8% |
3.45 |
0.26 |
|
Zygo Corp |
ZIGO |
NASDAQ |
Industrial |
367.1 |
19.43 |
25.8% |
479,109 |
127,890 |
274.6% |
19.65 |
13.12 |
|
Migao Corp |
MGO |
TSX |
Basic Materials |
76.1 |
1.45 |
10.7% |
126,046 |
35,519 |
254.9% |
1.50 |
0.91 |
|
Melior Resources Inc |
MLR |
TSXV |
Basic Materials |
25.1 |
0.15 |
70.6% |
258,867 |
86,182 |
200.4% |
0.16 |
0.07 |
|
Sandvine Corp |
SVC |
TSX |
Technology |
536.1 |
3.58 |
13.3% |
2,468,501 |
836,381 |
195.1% |
3.72 |
1.60 |
|
Quattro Exploration & Production Ltd |
QXP |
TSXV |
Energy |
26.6 |
0.76 |
76.7% |
179,586 |
72,153 |
148.9% |
0.79 |
0.04 |
|
Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd |
PPY |
TSX |
Energy |
1,006.5 |
11.37 |
14.0% |
1,427,907 |
627,313 |
127.6% |
11.45 |
6.05 |
|
US Ecology Inc |
ECOL |
NASDAQ |
Industrial |
915.0 |
42.50 |
18.1% |
371,071 |
173,725 |
113.6% |
42.75 |
25.61 |
|
CDN Oilfield Solutions Corp |
OTS |
TSXV |
Energy |
25.1 |
0.28 |
34.1% |
172,640 |
85,302 |
102.4% |
0.30 |
0.13 |
Source: Bloomberg
*Volume Comparison: 5-Day average volume over 30-Day average volume
Market cap & Last Price are in their respective currencies
Company Description
Vocus Inc (NASDAQ: VOCS)
Vocus, Inc. provides web-based software for public relations automation.
Raise Production Inc (TSXV: RPC)
Raise Production Inc. is an oilfield service company. The company’s production services segment utilizes its patented Activator Hydraulic Submersible Pump to increase ultimate production in both conventional and unconventional gas, oil, a CBM wells.
Zygo Corp (NASDAQ: ZIGO)
Zygo Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets measurement and yield improvement instruments, systems, and accessories used in high technology industries. The company has operations in the United States and Germany.
Migao Corp (TSX: MGO)
Migao Corporation manufactures potash based fertilizers in China. The company’s products include potassium nitrate and potassium sulphate which are suited for crops such as fruits, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton in the Chinese market.
Melior Resources Inc (TSXV: MLR)
Melior Resources Inc. invests in mining, metallurgical, and mineral companies.
Sandvine Corp (TSX: SVC)
Sandvine Corporation develops and markets broadband network management tools for broadband Internet services providers.
Quattro Exploration & Production Ltd (TSXV: QXP)
Quattro Exploration and Production Ltd. is an oil and gas exploration and production company. The company is focused on the south central region of Southern Saskatchewan’s Williston Basin.
Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd (TSX: PPY)
Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd. seeks to acquire interests in oil and natural gas exploration projects in Canada.
US Ecology Inc (NASDAQ: ECOL)
US Ecology, Inc. provides disposal, treatment, transportation, packaging, and remediation services for generators of hazardous, non-hazardous, and low-level radioactive waste. The company’s customers include the chemical, petroleum, steel, and pharmaceutical industries as well as universities and hospitals.
CDN Oilfield Solutions Corp (TSXV: OTS)
CDN Oilfield Solutions Corp. provides solutions to the oil and gas industry. The company supplies and services a wide variety of ESP solutions (electric submersible pumps), and provides third party next generation products in Mexico.
