THE REAL MOST ACTIVE Nasdaq Rises 1% On Slight Pullback In Volume.(B)

Byline: NANCY GONDO

The Nasdaq composite gave back some of its early gains but hung on for a 1% rise Thursday amid a slight pullback in volume. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 also went up 1%.

Laserscope surged 5.81 to 25.59 on four times usual trade. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reclassified the medical laser systems maker's prostate procedures so it gets double the prior payment rate. Profit and sales growth rose the past two quarters but are expected to slow the next quarter.

Amedisys gained 1.53 to an all-time high of 26.10, its seventh straight up session, on quadruple normal volume. The provider of home health-care nursing services expects to earn 27-31 cents a share in the first quarter; views are for 28 cents. It also reiterated its 2004 profit outlook of $1.18-$1.28 a share. Analysts expect $1.24.

Headwaters gapped up 1.38 to a new high of 27 on triple average turnover. The energy source technology firm is one of 25 stocks on Merrill Lynch's newly launched Nanotechnology Index. It scores the best Stock Checkup Overall and Fundamental Ranks in its 32-stock Energy-Other group.

NVE, a maker of spintronics-based ...