Solar Rules, Retail Drools Early in 2012 (TAN) (XRT)

With markets performing amiably over the eight trading days so far in 2012, which stocks are the most notable winners and losers heading into the glut of data which is the fourth-quarter earnings season?

We've compiled a list of the top ten in each category. The only constraints are volume and no ETF's (lower volume produces more volatility, so things should be smoother over one million shares daily). Things not filtered include M&A, company-specific news, or industry-specific news -- the list is trying to aggregate the most basic movements. Also, all numbers are from Wednesday's close.

Basic takeaways: renewed interest in solar has helped out these stocks while retail clothing took a hit from December sales and lowered guidance. While the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSE: XRT) is down about 0.5 percent in 2012, the Solar ETF (NYSE: TAN) has already surge 21 percent. Elsewhere, Hep-C pharmas were also helped out by the major acquisition of Inhibitex by Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), proposed last weekend.

Winners:

• Inhibitex, Inc. (Nasdaq: INHX) - up 123 percent;
  
• Rare Element Resources Ltd. (AMEX: REE) - up 92 percent;
  
• Dendreon Corp. (Nasdaq: DNDN) - up 89 percent;
  
• Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX) - up 75 percent;
  
• Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: HOV) - up 66 percent;
  
• A123 Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: AONE) - up 50 percent;
  
• Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) - up 48 percent;
  
• ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) - up 47 percent;
  
• JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: JASO) - up 45 percent; and
  
• Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) - up 41 percent.

Losers:

• Trident Microsystems, Inc. (NYSE: TRID) - down 39 percent;
  
• WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD) - down 30 percent;
  
• Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) - down 20 percent;
  
• Coldwater Creek, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWTR) - down 20 percent;
  
• Spreadtrum Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRD) - down 18 percent;
  
• Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOR) - down 15 percent;
  
• EXCO Resources Inc. (NYSE: XCO) - down 15 percent;
  
• The Jones Group Inc. (NYSE: JNY) - down 15 percent;
  
• American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) - down 15 percent; and
  
• Health Management Associates Inc. (NYSE: HMA) - down 14 percent.

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