6 Stocks Moving on Unusual Volume

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- At Stockpickr, we track daily portfolios of stocks that are the biggest percentage gainers and the biggest percentage losers.

Stocks that are making large moves like these are favorites among short-term traders because they can jump into these names and try to capture some of that massive volatility. Stocks that are making big-percentage moves either up or down are usually in play because their sector is becoming attractive or they have a major fundamental catalyst such as a recent earnings release. Sometimes stocks making big moves have been hit with an analyst upgrade or an analyst downgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind it, when a stock makes a large-percentage move, it is often just the start of a new major trend -- a trend that can lead to huge profits. If you time your trade correctly, combining technical indicators with fundamental trends, discipline and sound money management, you will be well on your way to investment success.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at a several stocks under $10 that are making large moves to the upside today. pSivida (PSDV) This company develops tiny, sustained-release, drug delivery products designed to deliver drugs at a controlled and steady rate for months or years. This stock closed up 6.6% to $4.04 in Thursday's trading session. Thursday's Range: $3.78-$4.12 52-Week Range: $1.17-$4.12 Thursday's Volume: 785,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 180,467 From a technical perspective, PSDV ripped higher here and broke out above some near-term overhead resistance at $3.83 with heavy upside volume. This stock also flirted with another breakout above its former 52-week high at $4.08, before it closed just below that level at $4.12. This stock has been uptrending strong for the last month, with shares moving higher from its low of $3.15 to its intraday high of $4.12. During that move, shares of PSDV have been consistently making higher lows and higher highs, which is bullish technical price action. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PSDV as long as it's trending above support at $3.80 or above its 50-day at $3.59, and then once it sustains a move or close above Thursday's high of $4.12 with volume that hits near or above 180,467 shares. If we get that move soon, then PSDV will set up to enter new 52-week high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.81 to $5.23. Any high-volume move above those levels could easily send PSDV towards $6.

Pain Therapeutics (PTIE)

This is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel drugs. It has four drug candidates in clinical programs, including Remoxy, Oxytrex, PTI-202 and a novel radio-labeled monoclonal antibody to treat metastatic melanoma. This stock closed up 0.75% to $2.70 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.59-$2.73

52-Week Range: $2.15-$5.86 Thursday's Volume: 165,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 399,812 From a technical perspective, PTIE moved modestly higher here right above its 50-day moving average of $2.48 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of PTIE within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if PTIE manages to take out its 200-day moving average of $2.81 and then once it clears some more near-term overhead resistance levels at $2.84 to $2.90 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PTIE as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.48, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 399,812 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then PTIE will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $3.45. Any high-volume move above $3.45 will then give PTIE a chance to re-fill some of its previous gap down zone from May that started above $5. Conatus Pharmaceuticals (CNAT) This company is engaged in the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. Its lead compound, emricasan, is applied in the treatment of chronic liver disease and acute exacerbations of chronic liver disease. This stock closed up 5.6% to $9.19 in Thursday's trading session. Thursday's Range: $8.80-$9.46 52-Week Range: $8.26-$11.24 Thursday's Volume: 41,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 133,582 From a technical perspective, CNAT jumped higher here right above some near-term support at $8.51 with lighter-than-average volume. This move is quickly pushing shares of CNAT within range of triggering a major breakout trade. That trade will hit if CNAT manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance levels at $9.45 to $9.60 and then once it clears more resistance at $9.72 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CNAT as long as it's trending above Thursday's low of $8.80, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 133,582 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then CNAT will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $11.

China Recycling Energy (CREG)

This company engages in the recycling energy business, providing energy savings and recycling products and services. This stock closed up 12.5% to $2.42 in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $2.15-$2.49 52-Week Range: $0.78-$2.49 Thursday's Volume: 355,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 95,671 From a technical perspective, CREG ripped sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $2.12 with heavy upside volume. This move briefly pushed shares of CREG into breakout territory, since the stock took out some near-term overhead resistance at $2.45. Shares of CREG closed just below that breakout level at $2.42 with volume that was well above its three-month average action of 95,671 shares. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in CREG as long as it's trending above its 50-day at $2.12, and then once it sustains a move or close above Thursday's high of $2.49 with volume that hits near or above 95,671 shares. If we get that move soon, then CREG will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $3.50. Meru Networks (MERU) This company provides a virtualized wireless LAN solution that optimizes the enterprise network to deliver the performance and operational simplicity of a wired network, with the mobility. This stock closed up 1.9% to $3.68 in Thursday's trading session. Thursday's Range: $3.52-$3.69 52-Week Range: $2.06-$6.96 Thursday's Volume: 90,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 167,439 From a technical perspective, MERU jumped modestly higher here right off some near-term support at $3.50 with lighter-than-average volume. This stock has been trending sideways for the last month, with shares moving between $3.40 on the downside and $3.75 on the upside. Shares of MERU are now starting to move within range of triggering a breakout trade above the upper-end of its recent sideways trading chart pattern. That trade will hit if MERU manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $3.75 and then once it clears its 50-day at $3.95 and its 200-day at $4.07 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MERU as long as it's trending above some key near-term support at $3.40, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 167,439 shares. If that breakout triggers soon, then MERU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $4.75 to $5.33.

TravelCenters LLC (TA)

This company operates and franchises travel centers along the U.S. interstate highway system. Its products and service include diesel fuel, gasoline, truck repair and maintenance services and restaurants. This stock closed up 2.8% to $8.23 a share in Thursday's trading session.

Thursday's Range: $7.92-$8.39 52-Week Range: $4.18-$12.50 Thursday's Volume: 322,000 Three-Month Average Volume: 358,159 From a technical perspective, TA trended modestly higher here right off its 200-day moving average of $8 with decent upside volume. This stock recently gapped down sharply in August from $11.29 to under $8 with heavy downside volume. Following that gap, shares of TA went on to make a new low at $7.06. Shares of TA have now started to rebound sharply off that $7.06 low and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if TA manages to take out some near-term overhead resistance at $8.59 to its 50-day at $9.11 with high volume. Traders should now look for long-biased trades in TA as long as it's trending above its 200-day at $8.80 or above more near-term support at $7.50, and then once it sustains a move or close above those breakout levels with volume that hits near or above 358,159 shares. If that breakout hits soon, then TA will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance level at $9.50. Any high-volume move above $9.50 will then give TA a chance to re-fill its previous gap down zone from August that started at $11.29. To see more stocks that are making notable moves higher today, check out the Stocks Under $10 Moving Higher portfolio on Stockpickr.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS: >>5 Tech Stocks Spiking on Big Volume >>5 Stocks Setting Up to Break Out >>4 Red-Flag Stocks to Sell This Fall

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At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned. Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Homebuilder Confidence Still High but Buyer Optimism Wanes

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Homebuilder confidence remained high in September but signs of waning interest from homebuyers are a cause for concern.

The National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which measures builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes, had a reading of 58 in September, unchanged from the previous month. [Read: Ex-JPMorgan Traders Could Face 20 Years in Prison]

The index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations in the next six months as well as their perceptions of traffic of prospective buyers.

A reading over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good rather than poor. While builder confidence has remained steady, many are reporting hesitancy on the part of buyers due to the sharp increase in mortgage rates. "Following a solid run-up in builder confidence over the past year, we are seeing a pause in the momentum as consumers wait to see where interest rates settle and as the headwinds of tight credit, shrinking supplies of lots for development and increasing labor costs continue," noted NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. On Wednesday, the Census Bureau will release housing starts data. Homebuilders are expected to have begun construction on 915,000 homes on an annualized, seasonally adjusted basis in September, according to economists polled by Bloomberg. Builders have actually been slow to ramp up construction despite a shortage of inventory in the market. With the high cost of land, materials and labor, and tight credit conditions, builders have chosen to keep inventory lean and raise prices to boost their margins. But with buyer demand waning, homebuilders may have to reconsider their recent price hikes. [Read: Investment Ideas From Day 1 of the NY Value Investing Congress] Meanwhile, construction activity still is well below normal, according to Trulia's Jed Kolko. That's because the vacancy rate nationally is 10.3%, close to its recession-era peak. There isn't a shortage of housing, just a shortage of homes for sale. Also, household formation at the rate of 746,000 annually is also half of what is considered normal. Household formation and construction won't go back to normal unless the jobs market booms and young adults begin to re-enter the housing market.

Housing has recovered over the past year on low rates and a sharp decline in inventory. With higher rates and increasing inventory, home price gains are expected to slow.

For the recovery to continue, the economy has to continue to expand and create more jobs, or in the absence of that credit would have to loosen.

-- Written by Shanthi Bharatwaj New York.

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Disclosure: TheStreet's editorial policy prohibits staff editors and reporters from holding positions in any individual stocks.