Stock On The Move - April 17

Stocks Rise on Heavy Volumn:

• Blue Dolphin Energy Co. (BDCO): shares of Houston, Texas based natural gas and oil exploration company jumped 29.29% or $1.81 to new 52 weeks high of $7.99 per share as price of oil hit $70 a barrel. The stock is the third leading gainer on Nasdaq today with 12.72 million shares traded, about 13 times average volumn. Since end of March the stock has gained more than 200% from closing of $2.19 on March 30.
• Pacific Ethanol Inc.(PEIX): shares of Fresno, CA based renewable fuel maker surged 15.75% or $4.61 to new 52 weeks high of $33.88 per share on rising fuel cost, completion of sales of $84 million preferred stock and $34 million financing. The stock is the seventh leading advancer on Nasdaq today with 6.8 million shares traded, about five times average volumn.

Stocks Drop on Heavy Volumn:

• Bookham Inc. (BKHM): shares of San Jose, CA based optical network component maker plunged 27% or $2.36 to $6.38 per share on analyst downgrade from buy to neutral after the company issued third quarter warning due to shutdown of tis British manufacturing operations. The stock was the biggest loser on Nasdaq today with 10.7 million shares traded, about five times average volumn.
• Newpark Resources Inc. (NR): shares of Metairie, LA based oilfield service provider tumbled 17.25% or $1.28 to $6.14 per share on ousting of the chief financial officer and two other division executives on internal investigation into potential invoice irregularities at subsidiary Soloco Texas LP. The stock was the leading decliner on NYSE today with 5.9 million shares traded, almost 9 times average volumn.