S&P SmallCap 600 in Focus: GGC STSA

The S&P 600--which tracks stocks with a market capitalization between $300 million and $2 billion--lost 1.34 points to 379.34.

The Conference Board said consumer confidence was 50.04 in June, far below economists' expectation of 56.5. Crude for August delivery, meanwhile, rose 11 cents to $136.85 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange

Synthetic building products maker Georgia Gulf Corp. slid 32 cents, to 7.3 percent, to $4.05.

Pericom Semiconductor Corp. lost $1.14, or 6.5 percent, to $16.28.

Dining program operator Rewards Network Inc. gave up 20 cents, or 5 percent, to $3.84.

Among the gainers, Sterling Financial Corp. surged 49 cents, or 12.2 percent, to $4.52, recouping a decline of nearly 10 percent on Monday.

Symmetry Medical Inc. jumped $1.28, or 8.6 percent, to $16.16. The orthopedic implant and device maker said Tuesday it was boosting its 2008 revenue guidance due to orders and anticipated demand.

Advanced Energy Industries Inc. gained $1.10, or 8 percent, to $14.83 after a Goldman Sachs analyst upgraded the semiconductor components maker to "Buy" from "Neutral" in a client note late Monday.

Small-cap companies make up about 3 percent of the total U.S. securities market but are often cited as good investments because of their low valuations and potential to grow into big-cap stocks.