The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Ascent Media, Cninsure, PMC-Sierra, Conn's, Hutchinson Technology, VIVUS, DryShips, Power-One, and Yongye International.

Ascent Media Corp. (ASCMA) improved 9.71 percent to $34 in the pre-market session. The company said it would sell the Content Distribution business of its unit Ascent Media Group to Encompass Digital Media, Inc. for around $113 million in cash. This follows the deal to sell AMG's Creative Services and Media Services businesses to Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. for about $68 million cash.

Cninsure Inc. (CISG) jumped 5.05 percent to $19.33 in the pre-market trading. The company said its board approved a corporate share buyback program authorizing up to $100 million in American depositary shares (ADS) repurchases by June 30, 2011.

Cninsure said its chief executive officer Yinan Hu and chief financial officer Peng Ge have made personal purchases of 100,000 ADSs at an average cost of over $20 in the open market since November 24, 2010.

PMC-Sierra Inc. (PMCS) soared 5.03 percent to $8.35 in the pre-market trading.

Conn's Inc. (CONN) surged 4.71 percent to $4.67 in the pre-market trading. The company's third quarter loss narrowed to $5.1 million or 23 cents a share from $14.4 million or 64 cents a share last year. Revenue fell 14 percent to $169.9 million. Analysts had expected a loss of 26 cents a share on revenue of $167.07 million. Same-store sales declined 16.3 percent.

Hutchinson Technology Inc. (HTCH) climbed 4.47 percent to $3.27 in the pre-market session.

VIVUS Inc. (VVUS) rose 4.17 percent to $7 in the pre-market session.

DryShips, Inc. (DRYS) gained 2.10 percent to $5.34 in the pre-market trading. The company said it has completed the ATM equity offering in which it raised gross proceeds of about $350 million since beginning the offering.

Power-One Inc. (PWER) grew 2.02 percent to $10.61 in the pre-market session.

Yongye International, Inc. (YONG) increased 2.00 percent to $7.64 in the pre-market trading.

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