Wednesday's Small-Cap Winners & Losers

Despite a few leaping tech names, small-cap stocks once again slunk behind the broad indices Wednesday.

But BladeLogic (BLOG Quote), a data-center automation-software company, catapulted 45.2% to $24.69 after its initial public offering of 5 million shares, 3.94 million of which are being sold by the company itself. Underwriters have an option for another 750,000 shares.

Supertex (SUPX Quote), a Sunnyvale, Calif., semiconductor firm, jumped 13.6% despite coming in just under top- and bottom-line expectations for the fiscal first quarter, and semiconductor-equipment maker Semitool (SMTL Quote) was higher after posting a small break-even loss for the quarter ended June 30 on revenue of $46.6 million. Thomson Financial's estimates had it losing 2 cents a share, and two analysts predicted sales of $45.5 million.

Supertex shares were up $4.41 to $36.91 as Montana-based Semitool gained 13% to $10.20, each in support of the Russell 2000, which was up 0.2% to 813.07. The S&P SmallCap 600, which counts Supertex as a member, was up marginally at 426.99.

GPC Biotech (GPCB Quote) was among Wednesday's worst losers overall, however, after a Food and Administration advisory panel unanimously recommended that the FDA wait for more information before approving its prostate-cancer drug satraplatin.

Shares of the Germany-based company plummeted 34.6% to $13.32 as partner Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI Quote) slid 17.1% to $3.98. Pharmion (PHRM Quote), which has some commercialization rights to the drug, gave up 1.2% to $24.32.