Security Stocks Are Top Performers of the Day
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Security device companies were the top U.S. stock performers on Monday, some making triple digit gains in an otherwise glum market that saw trading for the first time since hijacked commercial jets on Tuesday destroyed the World Trade Center and heavily damaged the Pentagon.
Leading the Nasdaq market by percent gain, InVision Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:INVN - news), which makes sophisticated explosives scanners being rolled out in major airports, rose 165.3 percent, or $5.14, to $8.25. However, it ended off its opening of $10.885, a trend for many of the security firm stocks.
Face recognition technology companies filled two of the Nasdaq's top 5 spots. Viisage Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:VISG - news), No. 2, rose 142.3 percent, or $2.76, to $4.70, and No. 5 Visionics Corp. (Nasdaq:VSNX - news) rose 93.2 percent, or $3.98, to $8.25. But both also ended lower than they opened.
The Nasdaq Composite index lost nearly 7 percent, falling 115.82 to 1,579.55.
Airport security firm ICTS International N.V. (Nasdaq:ICTS - news) rose 113.3 percent, or $5.04, to $9.49 and fingerprint scanning company Identix Inc. (AMEX:IDX - news) climbed $3.05, or 72.6 percent, to $7.25 on the American Stock Exchange.
Security services company Wackenhut Corp. (NYSE:WAK - news), whose contracts include some Department of Energy nuclear installations, rose $4.45, or 26.7 percent, to $21.15 on the New York Stock Exchange, where the percent gain leader was bullet-resistant vest maker and security services firm Armor Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AH - news), up 39.3 percent, or $5.62, to $19.92.
L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LLL - news), which supplies secure communications and specialized products for aerospace and military industries, was the second highest gainer on the NYSE, up $24, or 38.1 percent, to $87, though short of its $92 opening. |
