Monday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Small-cap stocks moved tightly with the broader market Monday for most of the day before coming up slightly higher than the rest, though still ending up in negative territory.

Among the winners was Metabolix (MBLX Quote), which develops eco-friendly products, after it formed a joint venture with agricultural processor ADM (ADM Quote) in order to make biodegradable plastics. The first plant for these purposes should launch in 2008. Cambridge, Mass.-based Metabolix surged 15% to $20.70; ADM closed 1.1% higher at $38.96.

Metals-components maker Kreisler Manufacturing (KRSL Quote) shot up 18.4% to $24.28 after announcing a three-year deal with United Technologies (UTX Quote) for F119 engine components. The deal, slated to begin Jan. 1 of next year, will bring in about $12 million in revenue, $2 million of which will be paid in advance. United Technologies added 30 cents to close at $67.78.

Minnesota-based Lenox Group (LNX Quote) completed a $275 million revolving credit facility. The housewares maker jumped 86 cents, or 11.5%, to close at $8.31.

Also on the move today were a number of companies boosted by positive analyst calls. SunTrust Robinson, for example, said medical-device maker AngioDynamics (ANGO Quote) will probably meet its earnings guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter, and it upped the stock to buy from neutral. Shares leapt 9.6% to $17.75.

Among other small-cap upgrades today, wireless-products maker Brightpoint (CELL Quote) climbed 6.7% to $13.43 after Cowen & Co. upped its rating to outperform; elsewhere, water-utility company American States Water (AWR Quote) and postage-services Web site Stamps.com (STMP Quote) were respectively upgraded by Matrix Research and B. Riley & Co. American States Water shares gained 4.5% to $37.51, while Stamps.com added 3.5% to $13.33.