THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Small-Cap Stocks Shine As Nasdaq Gains Again.(B)

Byline: DAVID SAITO-CHUNG

The Nasdaq fell for the third straight week, but Thursday it gained 1% on higher volume, cutting its weekly loss to 6 points.

Verisity zoomed out of a 10-month cup-with-handle base, rising 2.33 to a new high of 22.23 on nearly seven times normal volume. The company's software helps chipmakers verify the accuracy of their designs. On Thursday, two European chipmaker bodies said global computer chip sales in February showed no change from January, perhaps signaling a bottom.

Avant, which also makes chip design-related software, moved up 0.71 to 20.03 on double its average trade. The stock has rebounded from as low as 2.62 in late September and is 5% off its 52-week high.

Direct Focus jumped out of a nine-week base, rising 2.71 to 38.05 on almost four times usual volume. The maker of home gym equipment and air-based mattresses was featured in Nasdaq Stocks In The News on Wednesday. U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray reportedly wrote that Direct is poised to report another pleasing quarter. Analysts see first-quarter profit up 32% to 54 cents a share.

WD-40 gapped up 0.87 to a new high of 30.12 on heavy trade. The lubricants ...