The Micro Cap Opportunity

On the Radar: SGCP, SIVC, WWEI, ABTG, AVNX, INSM

This morning's top Micro Cap trading ideas include, Sierra Gold Corp. (OTCPK: SGCP), S3 Investment Company, Inc. (OTCPK: SIVC), Welwind Energy International Corp. (OTCBB: WWEI), Ambient Corp. (OTCBB: ABTG), Avanex Corp. (NASD: AVNX), Insmed, Inc. (NASD: INSM).

Featured Pick
?SIERRA GOLD CORP. (OTCPK: SGCP)
Up 18.18% on Wednesday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SGCP.PK

Sierra Gold is engaged in the exploration and development of gold and diamond properties in West Africa. The greenstone belt of West Africa has had a long history of gold mining and prospecting. The region has been one of the fastest gold producing areas worldwide. Sierra Leone's neighbors, Ghana and Mali, are the second and third largest gold producers in all of Africa. To view the pictures of JV gold and local alluvial mining operations, please visit www.sierragoldcorp.com.

Recent SGCP News:

S3 INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC. (OTCPK: SIVC)
Up 14.29% on Wednesday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SIVC.PK

S3 Investment Company, Inc. (http://www.s3investments.com) is a holding company with two subsidiaries doing business in the China market. S3 holds a 100% equity interest in Redwood Capital (http://www.redwoodcapinc.com), which assists private Chinese companies in accessing U.S. capital markets by utilizing a network of investment banking relationships to achieve reverse merger transactions, and a 51% equity interest in SINO UJE (http://www.sinouje.com), a non-stocking distributor of medical and industrial high-tech products to markets throughout China.

Recent SIVC News:

April 16, 2008 - S3 Investment Company Announces Shandong Yiteng Chemical as New Reverse Merger Client for Redwood Capital Subsidiary
S3 Investment Company, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: SIVC), a holding company with two subsidiaries doing business in the China market, today announced that Shandong Yiteng Chemical Co., Ltd. has been signed as a new reverse merger client for its Redwood Capital subsidiary, which assists private Chinese companies in accessing the U.S. capital markets through reverse mergers into U.S. public companies.
Shandong Yiteng Chemical Co., Ltd. (http://www.sdytjt.com), based in China's Shandong province, is a leading manufacturer of chemicals in China, including hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyanionic cellulose.
Redwood Capital participated in a recently closed acquisition transaction involving Dalian Chuming, a pork processing company that trades in the U.S. as Energroup Holdings Corporation under the symbol ENHD. As part of the transaction, Energroup Holdings Corporation, a Nevada corporation, acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Precious Sheen Investments Limited ("PSI"), a British Virgin Islands corporation and parent company of PRC-based Dalian Chuming.
Redwood Capital was issued 428,095 shares of Energroup Holdings Corporation as the equity portion of its payment for provided advisory services for the transaction. Institutional and accredited investors participated in a $17.0 million private placement with Energroup Holdings Corporation, paying $4.40 per share. At the placement price, the value of Redwood Capital's equity position would exceed $1.8 million. At the most recent trading price of Energroup Holdings Corporation's common stock, the value of the equity position would exceed $2.1 million.
"The addition of another quality Chinese private company client further strengthens the position of Redwood Capital and S3 Investment Company in the reverse merger sector," said S3 chairman and chief executive officer Jim Bickel. "Our participation in the successful close of the Chuming transaction significantly increased our profile in China, and we continue to see a consistent flow of potential clients for Redwood Capital to consider."
"Redwood Capital now has three active reverse merger clients in China and is considering several additional candidates. We look forward to future transaction closings and the significant equity value that they bring to the company's balance sheet," he added.

WELWIND ENERGY INTERNATIONAL CORP. (OTCBB: WWEI)
Up 28.57% on Wednesday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=WWEI.OB

Welwind Energy International Corp. is committed to providing the best resource option available for renewable energy, protecting our environment, empowering communities, bolstering local economies and respecting the rights of future generations.
Welwind Energy International was founded to build, own and operate wind farms on an international scale. The company's goal is to become a leading provider of clean energy products for the residential, business and governmental consumer.

Recent WWEI News:

April 16, 2008 - Welwind Energy International Investor Conference Call Available On Corporate Website
Welwind Energy International Corp.'s (the "Company") (OTCBB:WWEI) year end investor conference call, which took place on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. PDT, is available for downloading off of the company website. Please follow the link below to access and then click on the April 14th news release:
http://www.welwind.com/ir-news_releases.php
Tammy McNabb, President and Director; Shannon de Delley, Managing Director; and Luis Carillo, Internal Counsel, gave a detailed update on the progress that the Company has made in the past quarter as well as what is anticipated in the near future.

AMBIENT CORP. (OTCBB: ABTG)
Up 20.31% Yesterday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ABTG.OB

Ambient designs, develops and markets Ambient Smart Grid(TM) communications technologies and equipment. Utilizing proprietary, open standards-based technologies along with in-depth industry experience, Ambient provides utilities with solutions for creating smart grid communication platforms and technologies. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (OTCBB: ABTG). More information on Ambient is available at www.ambientcorp.com.

Recent ABTG News:

April 16, 2008 - Ambient Receives Purchase Order for X-2000

 Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) announced today that it has received a purchase order for 9,000 units of its newest communications node, the X-2000. The purchase order is from the contract announced by Ambient earlier this month. With a maximum value of $11.0 million, the purchase order includes licensing of Ambient's Network Management System, AmbientNMS(TM), and engineering support in building out an intelligent grid/intelligent-metering platform.
"Ambient will be supporting utility applications for smart grid and Utility of the Future initiatives. Initially, we will be building out the communications platform, Ambient Smart Grid(TM), for "last mile" backhaul supporting the utility's plan to reach approximately 50,000 end points," stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient.
A communications platform such as the Ambient Smart Grid(TM) is necessary for utilities to implement a full suite of smart grid applications, which include Advanced Meter Reading (AMR), real-time pricing, Demand Side Management (DSM) and direct load control. When combined, these applications can offer economic, operational and environmental benefits for utilities and utility customers. This platform helps utilities meet growing energy demand with their existing legacy systems by increasing the efficiency and functionality of the electrical distribution grid.

AVANEX CORP. (NASD: AVNX)
Up 9.38% on Wednesday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=AVNX

Avanex Corporation meets the needs of fiber optic communications networks for greater capacity, longer distance transmissions, improved connectivity, higher speeds and lower costs. Our solutions enable optical wavelength multiplexing, dispersion compensation, switching and routing, transmission, and amplification, and include network-managed subsystems. Avanex Corporation, incorporated in 1997, is headquartered in Fremont, California, and maintains facilities in New York, Florida, China, France, Italy, and Thailand. To learn more about Avanex Corporation, visit our Web site at: www.avanex.com.

Recent AVNX News:

April 16, 2008 - Dennis Wolf Joins Avanex Board of Directors

Avanex Corporation (NASDAQ:AVNX), a pioneering provider of intelligent photonic solutions enabling next-generation optical networks, today announced the appointment of Dennis Wolf to its board of directors, effective April 15, 2008.
Dennis Wolf has broad executive financial management experience in technology companies at the COO, CFO and Co-CEO levels. Mr. Wolf most recently served as Executive Vice President and CFO for MySQL, AB, a leading open source database company, where he was responsible for managing the company's finance operations. Prior to MySQL, Mr. Wolf held financial management positions for public high technology companies including Omnicell, Inc., Credence Systems, Centigram Communications, Apple Computer, and Sun Microsystems. He currently serves on the boards of Codexis and Quantum Corporation, and has been a board member and chair of the audit committee for Nasdaq-listed companies, including Komag and Vitria Technology.
Avanex Chairman, President, and CEO Jo Major welcomed Dennis Wolf to the Avanex board, saying, "Dennis' wealth of strategic experience in the technology sector coupled with his strong corporate finance background gives him a unique voice as our future board member. We look forward to his contributions."
Mr. Wolf holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the University of Denver.

INSMED, INC. (NASD: INSM)
Up 7.66% on Wednesday

Detailed Quote: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=INSM

Insmed Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with unique protein process development and manufacturing experience and a proprietary protein platform aimed at niche markets with unmet medical needs. For more information, please visit www.insmed.com.

Recent INSM News:

April 16, 2008 - Insmed Initiates Clinical Study for Follow-on Biologic Version of Neupogen(R)

Insmed Inc. (Nasdaq: INSM), a developer of follow-on biologics and biopharmaceuticals, today announced that it has received approval from the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to initiate the Company's first clinical study for a follow-on biologic (FOB) product candidate. Insmed's INS-19, which is a recombinant form of human G-CSF, is a follow-on biologic of the FDA-approved product Neupogen(R), which had U.S. sales of approximately $0.9 billion in 2007.
Pre-clinical studies demonstrate that INS-19 and FDA-approved Neupogen(R) are comparable in both their pharmacological and toxicological profile. Detailed analytical characterisation also demonstrates that the products have a high degree of similarity. Data from these initial evaluations have been used, in part, to support the Phase I study, which will be initiated immediately. The Phase I study will be conducted in the UK and will compare the safety and establish the bioequivalence of INS-19 to Neupogen(R). Results from the trial are expected in the second half of 2008, and are planned to be used as part of a submission to the FDA to establish a protocol with the agency for a Phase III trial in the U.S.
"By utilizing Insmed's unique protein drug development capabilities and technical expertise, the Company has been able to advance a follow-on biologic product candidate from project initiation to human testing in less than one year, a significant achievement," said Geoffrey Allan, CEO of Insmed. "We intend to utilize the data generated from the Phase I trial, in combination with the positive preclinical results previously garnered, as the basis for discussions with the FDA in an effort to establish a Phase III development path for INS-19."
The initiation of this follow-on biologic trial is the first of two planned for 2008 as part of Insmed's development of a portfolio of FOBs. Members of Insmed's skilled biologics team have worked on over 50 therapeutic proteins. Their focused protein-based drug development backgrounds, coupled with the Company's FDA-approved protein manufacturing facility, and clinical and regulatory expertise, positions Insmed, upon the establishment of a regulatory approval pathway, to be an initial entrant into the U.S. FOBs market with a broad range of medicines following the expiration of patents covering the innovator products. The patent covering Neupogen(R) expires in 2013.
The Follow-on Biologics Market
According to published reports, an estimated $10 billion worth of biologic drugs are expected to come off patent by 2010, with an additional $10 billion by 2015. FOBs would provide safe and effective therapies at a reduced cost following the expiration of the original product's patent. A recent econometric study by economist Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, former Under Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration, found that "...generic versions of the top 12 categories of biologic treatments with patent protections that have expired or that are due to expire in the near future could save Americans $67 billion to $108 billion over 10 years and $236 billion to $378 billion over 20 years."
About INS-19
Recombinant human G-CSF is a synthetic version of a human G-CSF that is produced in bacteria. The G-CSF mimics the biological effects of naturally occurring G-CSF and is used to treat certain medical conditions were a person's neutrophils are too low (neutropenia), such as in cancer patients who are receiving certain chemotherapeutic regimens, patients receiving bone marrow transplants, or in patients who have chronically low neutrophils for other reasons. Pre-clinical studies demonstrate that INS-19 and FDA-approved Neupogen(R) are comparable in both their pharmacological and toxicological profile. Detailed analytical characterisation also demonstrates that the products have a high degree of similarity.