Casino stocks were up on Thursday after MGM Mirage (MGM) reached a lending agreement.

Debt concerns have weighed heavily on casino stocks recently, and stock prices have largely reflected the firms’ ability to extend payment deadlines and free up capital. After the bell on Wednesday, MGM Mirage, the fifth largest casino company by market cap, announced that it reached a lending agreement that should secure the completion of its $8 billion CityCenter venture. The project, which is cosponsored by Dubai World, has faced bankruptcy concerns, but investors are now optimistic, sending MGM stock higher by more than 35%.

As a whole, the Casino Stocks Index is up by 8%. It is now beating the S&P 500 by 65.3% this month.

The sector’s biggest names are all following MGM higher today. Wynn Resorts (WYNN), Las Vegas Sands (LVS), Penn National Gaming (PENN), and Melco Crown Entertainment (MPEL) are all up by more than 3.5%.

Century Casinos (CNTY), Isle of Capri Casinos (ISLE), and Riviera Holdings (RIV) are all up by more than 11%.

Meanwhile, Ameristar Casinos (ASCA) is up 15% to a new 52-week high after Goldman Sachs’ Steven Kent gave the stock an upgrade to Buy from Neutral.

As of this writing, the Casino Stocks Index is one of the top-three performing tickerspy Indexes this month, up by 77.7%.

Investors can follow the Casino Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Solar stocks were on the move on Thursday after better-than-expected earnings from the industry’s largest player.

First Solar (FSLR) reported net income of $169 million or $1.99 per share, well above analysts’ EPS estimate of $1.52. Shares are up by 25% today on the report. The company produces solar panels with cadmium telluride, which are less expensive than the more popular silicon-based solar cells. This advantage helped First Solar to outperform its peers, which have faced pressure from tightened margins and decreased demand.

As a whole, the Solar Stocks Index is up by 11%. It is outperforming the S&P 500 by 12% this month.

The entire solar sector is rallying on the First Solar report. Chinese players China Sunergy (CSUN), JA Solar Holdings (JASO), ReneSola (SOL), and Suntech Power Holdings (STP) are all higher by more than 7%.

Domestic solar names Energy Conversion Devices (ENER), SunPower (SPWRA), silicon supplier MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR), and Evergreen Solar (ESLR) are all up by more than 10%.

Entech Solar (OTCBB: ENSL) is the Index’s only loser today, down by -2%.

As of this writing, the Solar Stocks Index is in the top-100 performing tickerspy Indexes this month, up by 24.1%.

Investors can follow the Solar Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Coffee stocks continued their rally on Thursday following Green Mountain Coffee Roasters’ (GMCR) earnings report.

Green Mountain shares are up by more than 40% today after reporting better-than-expected earnings in the second fiscal quarter. Revenue jumped 60% to $193.4 million, resulting in profits of $13 million or 50 cents a share. Net income was more than double that of the same period in 2008, when EPS was 23 cents. Demand was up for the company’s K-Cup single serving coffee packs as well Keurig licensed roasters. The stock is also benefiting from Wednesday’s announcement of a distribution partnership with Wal-Mart (WMT). Keurig roasters and K-Cups will be sold in over 3,000 Wal-Mart stores in time for Mother’s Day.

As a whole, the Coffee Stocks Index is up by 16% on the day. It is outperforming the S&P 500 by 79% this month.

Diedrich Coffee (DDRX) is adding to its remarkable 562% monthly rally. The stock is up 22% today. In March, Diedrich sold its Gloria Jean’s franchise. Diedrich also packages its coffee in K-Cups for use in Keurig roasters.

Starbucks (SBUX) is also on the move today, up by 10% after reporting a 77% drop in second-quarter earnings. Profits in the first three months of 2009 totaled $25 million. Excluding one-time expenses associated with store closings, the company managed to beat analyst estimates by a penny, earning 16 cents a share.

Peet’s Coffee (NASDAQA: PEET) is up by 4% today after reporting a 46% jump in first-quarter profits after the bell on Tuesday. And Caribou Coffee (CBOU) is shooting higher by more than 8% today as Starbucks earnings add further support for the coffee house rally.

Farmer Brothers Company (FARM) is up by 1% today, and Javo Beverage (OTCBB: JAVO) is falling by -3%.

As of this writing, the Coffee Stocks Index is the best performing tickerspy Indexes this month, up by 92%.

Investors can follow the Coffee Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Movie production and theater stocks were up on Wednesday after DreamWorks Animation (DWA) reported blockbuster earnings.

Strong video sales and the international release of “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” helped DreamWorks more than double its first-quarter profit. The company reported profits of $62 million, or 71 cents a share, well above consensus estimates of 45 cents. $148 million of the company’s $263 million in revenue is attributable to the second installment of the “Madagascar” franchise. The stock is up by more than 23%.

As a whole, the Movie Production and Theater Stocks Index is up by 6.3% today. It is now beating the S&P 500 by 5% over the last month.

Following DreamWorks higher today is RHI Entertainment (RHIE), which will report its first-quarter earnings next Wednesday, May 6. The company is up more than 12%.

Marvel Entertainment (MVL) is trading higher by 5% today as investors await Friday’s release of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” The film’s popularity is up 300% this week according to IMDB’s MOVIEmeter.

Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF) is also up today by over 1%. On Monday, the company announced a multiyear contract for domestic distribution of Relativity Media productions.

Regal Entertainment Group (RGC) and New Frontier Media (NOOF) are also up today. Both stocks are advancing by more than 1%.

As of this writing, the Movie Production and Theater Stocks Index is one of the top-10 performers on the day.

Investors can follow the Movie Production and Theater Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Telecom stocks in China and Taiwan shot up mid-week after companies reported earnings and as China looks to speed up mobile networks.

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) reported first-quarter net income of $10.8 billion, or $1.11 per share. Profits were up 0.7% and EPS remained flat. Revenue was down 3.6% because of weak global economy, but the company managed to increase subscribers by 2.9%. The company did not offer full-year guidance due to continued economic uncertainty, but second-quarter revenue and gross profit are expected to be up fractionally. Shares are trading higher by 9.5% today.

As a whole, the Chinese Telecom Stocks Index is up by 6.8%. It currently lags the S&P 500 by -2% over the last month.

China Unicom (CHU) also reported earnings on Wednesday, sending its stock up by 7%. The company noted that a comparison to last year’s figures could not be made because of a change in preparation standards, but first quarter profit was $525 million. The company recently merged with rival China Netcom.

Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) reported on Tuesday that it won contracts from China Mobile (CHL) and China Telecom (CHA) valued at $1.7 billion. Alcatel-Lucent will work with the Chinese providers to roll out high-speed 3G mobile networks, an area where the country has fallen behind despite having the largest mobile-phone market by subscribers.

The Chinese Telecom Index is top performing among China’s tickerspy Indexes today, but is being outperformed by the China Education Stocks Index and the Chinese Online Gaming Stocks Index on a monthly basis.

Investors can follow the Chinese Telecom Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Massey Energy (MEE) sent coal stocks higher on Wednesday after reporting a 3.6% increase in profits.

Massey earned $43.4 million, or 51 cents a share in the first quarter, up from $41.9 million, or 52 cents during the same period in 2008. Analysts were expecting earnings of 53 cents a share. Despite missing the Street’s estimate, the stock is soaring today by nearly 20%. Massey lowered its production guidance for the remainder of the year to between 38 and 41 million tons, which are expected to bring in revenue between $2.28 billion and $2.58 billion. Production in 2010 is expected to be even lower, between 35 and 40 million tons.

As a whole, the Coal Stocks Index is up by 4.9%. It currently lags the S&P 500 by -1% over the last month.

Earlier this week, Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) reported a 68% increase in first quarter earnings. The coal industry is benefiting from high coal prices, which were locked in as the commodity soared to record levels last summer. Alliance also lowered 2009 production guidance, citing weak demand. Today, the stock is up by 3%.

Arch Coal (ACI) reported a 60% decline in first quarter profit last week, citing weak demand. The stock is up by 9% today.

Peabody Energy (BTU), Alpha Natural Resources (ANR), Patriot Coal (PCX), CONSOL Energy (CNX), and Walter Industries (WLT) are all up by more than 4% today in an sector-wide rally.

Evergreen Energy (EEE) and Headwaters (HW) are the only stocks in the Index trading lower today.

As of this writing, the Coal Stocks Index is one of the worst 50 performing tickerspy Indexes this month, up by 6.1%.

Investors can follow the Coal Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Earnings and consumer confidence numbers powered clothing stocks ahead on Tuesday.

Clothing companies are extending their monthly rally today after Under Armor (UA) and Hanesbrands (HBI) beat analyst expectations. Additionally, the Consumer Confidence Index jumped by 12 points to 39.2 in April. The report bodes was viewed as good news for stocks, especially those in sectors involved with the production and retail of consumer products.

As a whole, the Clothing Stocks Index is up by 4.2%. It is now beating the S&P 500 by 22.8% this month.

Though restructuring costs caused Hanesbrands to report a loss in the first quarter, the company reported an adjusted profit. Following the exclusion of one-time expenses, the company reported a profit 3 cents a share, ahead of the 5-cent loss expected by analysts. Revenue in the first quarter was hurt in part by weak European sales caused by a stronger dollar and reduced consumer spending. The stock is up by 4%.

Under Armor is up by more than 16% today after its new shoe line helped power the company to $4 million in first-quarter profit. Sales were up 27% to $200 million, bolstered by footwear revenue, which more than tripled to $56.9 million.

High-end denim brands are performing well today. Joe’s Jeans (JOEZ) is leading the Clothing Stocks Index higher with gains of over 22%. Also up today are True Religion (TRLG) and VF Corp. (VFC), which owns 7 For All Mankind, among other brands. Both stocks are up by more than 2%.

Diversified clothiers Perry Ellis (PERY), Polo Ralph Lauren (RL), and Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) are all up by more than 1% on the day.

Industry laggards include Gildan Activewear (GIL) and Liz Claiborne (LIZ), both of which are have been trading near breakeven. Columbia Sportswear (COLM) moved into the green in aftrernoon trading Monday after suffering downgrades from Susquehanna Financial and RBC Capital Markets on Friday.

As of this writing the Clothing Stocks Index is one of the top-15 performing tickerspy Indexes this month, up by 28%.

Investors can follow the Clothing Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Hospitals and specialized care stocks were up on Tuesday on positive earnings from a number of industry players.

Healthcare facilities and outpatient service companies are not immune to the symptoms of a lagging economy. Amid high unemployment rates, uninsured patients put downward pressure on margins, and Dow Jones Newswire reports that many hospitals are now skeptical of Medicare’s ability to improve reimbursement rates. Today, the sector is rallying on positive earnings reports and a handful of analyst upgrades.

Universal Health Services (UHS) said profits were up 10% in the first three months of 2009 to $67.5 million, or $1.37 a share. Analysts were expecting EPS of $1.14. Deutsche Bank also upgraded the stock to Buy from Hold. The stock is up by 8% on the news.

As a whole, the Hospital Stocks Index is up by 3.7%. It is now beating the S&P 500 by 31% this month.

Health Management Associates (HMA) is up by 3% today after beating expectations with $52.6 million in net income in the first quarter. The company’s EPS was 19 cents, 7 cents above consensus estimates. Earnings were down from the same period last year.

Elsewhere in the sector, Tenet Healthcare (THC) and AmSurg (AMSG) are both up by more than 4% today, while MedCath (MDTH) is off by -1.5%.

The Specialized Healthcare and Outpatient Services Stocks Index also up today by 3.9%. It has lagged the Hospital Index over the last month, but remains ahead of the S&P 500 by 2%.

DaVita (DVA) is helping the Index higher after reporting first quarter profits of $96.2 million or 92 cents a share. The company, which provides kidney dialysis services, saw earnings come grow from a year ago. The results also beat the consensus estimates of 91 cents. DaVita was upgraded yesterday, prior to the earnings release, by Piper Jaffray to Buy from Neutral. The stock is up by over 3%.

Hanger Orthopedic Group (HGR) met estimates after the bell yesterday with first quarter profits of $4.52 million or 14 cents a share. Earnings were up by 26.6% from the same period last year. The stock is up over 13%.

Psychiatric Solutions (PSYS) will report its first quarter earnings after the bell today. It and Continucare (CNU) are both trading higher by more than 3%.

As of this writing the Hospital Stocks Index is one of the top-10 performing tickerspy Indexes over the last month, up by 36.4%. The Specialized Healthcare and Outpatient Services Stocks Index failed to make the cut with a monthly value increase of 7.1%.

Investors can follow the above indexes and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Swine and bird flu stocks were mixed on Tuesday after staging a 22% daily rally to begin the week.

Mention the word pandemic, and investors seek out companies that can fight one. Yesterday, as the various media outlets interpreted the severity of the swine flu outbreak, vaccine stocks shot up in value. Any name thought to be associated with an antiviral solution to the potential pandemic was bid higher as traders feared missing out on the rally. Today, after some time to digest the information, traders are dumping some of their more speculative positions. A significant portion of the sector is giving back a portion of its gains, but a few companies are hanging on or advancing further.

As a whole the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index is down by -2%. It remains ahead of the S&P 500 by 26% this month.

Novavax (NVAX) is up by 13% today, extending its weekly gains to over 225%. Despite today’s gain, the stock is currently trading below yesterday’s top intraday value, and is -25% below its 52-week high.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) has also more than doubled over the last week, up 122%. Today the stock is trading higher by 5%.

Moving fractionally on the day are some of the larger-cap names, including Crucell (CRXL), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Roche Holdings (OTC: RHHBY), and Sanofi-Aventis (SNY).

Alpha Pro Tech (APT), Generex Biotechnology (GNBT), and Pure Bioscience (PURE) are the Index’s biggest losers today. All three are down by more than -9% today, but all remain higher by at least 40% over the last week.

Dynavax Technologies (DVAX), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and Vical (VICL) are also selling off today, down by more than more than -2.5%.

As of this writing the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index is one of the top-10 performing tickerspy Indexes over the last month, up by 32%.

Investors can follow the Swine Flu and Bird Flu Stocks Index and view related performance charts and metrics at tickerspy.com.

Prominent growth investor Louis Navellier was adding stakes in a number of names during Q1, in contrast to the prior quarter when he had been seen clearing the decks. The buys covered an array of sectors, including increased stakes in a pair of the Nasdaq’s most well-known growth names, and were tempered by modest sales among Navellier’s top holdings.

Louis Navellier is well known for his growth-focused newsletters, including “Blue Chip Growth,” and he is the founder of Navellier & Associates, an investment advisor with about $4.3 billion under management as of late 2008. The firm provides investment services, including growth-focused mutual funds like its Navellier Fundamental “A” (Nasdaq: NFMAX).

Looking at Navellier’s top holdings across all of his funds at the end of 2008, one can see he was opening a new stake in retailer Kohls (KSS). He also added to stakes in Nasdaq high-fliers First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) and online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN). Navellier was making other buys as well, picking up shares of for-profit education company Apollo Group (Nasdaq: APOL) and natural gas producer Southwestern Energy Company (SWN).

Elsewhere, Navellier was primarily in selling mode. He cut his stake in biotech Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD), his top holding. He was also trimming his stakes in Wal-Mart (WMT), pharmacy benefit management company Express Scripts (Nasdaq: ESRX), Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL), and Praxair (PX).

Tickerspy.com’s graph charting the performance of Navellier’s end-of-Q1 holdings so far during Q2 shows the holdings staying ahead of the market. If you want to see how your performance stacks up to Navellier’s or to see some of the other stocks it’s invested in, visit tickerspy.com to see the firm’s top holdings and a chart of their combined performance.

Pro portfolio performance is based on institutions’ top-15 holdings as disclosed in quarter-end filings with the SEC. Pro performance does not take into account additional holdings beyond the top 15 nor does it include positions that are not required to be disclosed by the SEC. As such, Pro portfolio performance should be considered an approximation and not a precise record of how an institution has performed over time.