Boston, MA 03/21/2014 (wallstreetpr) – First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) shares surged in the Thursday session after the company announced its ambitious plans to offset the slowdown in U.S. utility sales. Shares touched a new 52-week high at $73.74, and later settle at $70.48, up 1.56 percent by closing bell. The company said that it was looking to smaller projects in commercial and industrial rooftops which it predicted had the potential of boosting its revenue by more than 36 percent in the next three years. First Solar observed that it was running out of big solar farm projects as most of its U.S. energy customers had become compliant with the regulatory issues and thus needed no more solar power. However, First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) remains focused on inking bigger solar deals in other markets outside the U.S. where unmet energy needs exist. According to CEO Jim Hughes, the company is circling India, South America and Saudi Arabia as among its next stops for utility projects.
Vertex Energy Inc (NASDAQ:VTNR) is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to make its business better. The company just announced an asset acquisition deal with Omega Holding Company. In the agreement, Vertex will pay roughly $30.8 million cash and give out 2 million of its common stock to Omega in exchange for the latter’s assets related to distribution of fuel oils, processing of used oil and refining of base lubricating oils. Vertex will also assume $9.7 million in capital lease and liabilities as part of the agreement. Shares of Vertex rose 21.73 percent to $4.65 by closing bell Thursday. The Thursday session was characterized with solid volume of shares changing hands and the shares of Vertex Energy Inc (NASDAQ:VTNR) jumped to establish a new 52-week at $4.83.
The story around Signature Exploration and Productn Corp. (OTCMKTS:SXLP) changed rapidly during Thursday session. With no big company news coming out on the day, shares made a surprise jump. By closing bell, shares were up 148.32 percent to $7.40, a record single day gain on the stock. Earlier on, the shares managed to hit a new one-year high at $8. The Thursday day of Signature Exploration and Productn Corp. (OTCMKTS:SXLP) came on extremely large volume too, where an exceeding amount of shares than in a normal session changed hands.
