Stocks On The Move - December 20

Stocks Rise on Heavy Volumn:

• SIGA Technologies Inc. (SIGA): shares of New York based biological warfare technology company skyrocketted 82.15% to $4.95 per share after the company's drug received orphan drug status from FDA. The stock was the winner on the stock market today with 16.93 million shares traded.
• Escala Group Inc. (ESCL): the share of collectable trading company soared for the second straight day by rising 22.44% to $10.53 per share continuing the rally yesterday after the company announced it will restate its finalcial results for three fiscal years and part of a fourth. The stock was the fourth leading gainer on Nasdaq today with heavier volumn than yesterday of 29 million shares traded, making it the nineth heaviest traded on Nasdaq.
• Mamma.com Inc. (MAMA): the Montreal, Canada based web search technology company has been one of the hottest stocks recently as it is on the fourth straight day of rally. Shares today soared 33.39% to $7.31 per share on its online video search technology. In this month alone, the stock has gained 250% from $2.13 per share in early December. The stock was the second leading gainer and the tenth heaviest traded on Nasdaq today with 29.12 million shares traded.
• Digitas Inc. (DTAS): shares of Boston, MA based marketing service company soared 22.14% to $13.35 per share after Publicis Group is buying the company for $1.3 billion or $13.5 per share. The stock was the sixth leading gainer on the stock market today with 21.4 million shares traded.

Stocks Drop on Heavy Volumn:

• Northfield Laboratories Inc. (NFLD): shares of Evanston, Illinois based biotechnology company plunged for the fourth straight session by dipping 57.53% to $4.85 per share after the result of the Phase II trial of the oxygen-carrying red blood cell substitute came negative. The stock was the biggest loser on the stock market today with 16 million shares traded.
• Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PANC): shares of Watertown, MA based biotechnology company plunged 30.76% to $3.94 per share on disappointing Phase II clinical results for its HIV drug. The stock was the third leading decliner on Nasdaq today with 13.75 million shares exchanged hands.