March 29 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of the following companies had unusual moves in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses. Prices are as of 4 p.m. in New York.

Coal stocks gained on expectations that severe droughts in southwest China will increase the demand for coal burned for electricity generation.

Massey Energy Co. (MEE:US) rose 7 percent to $54.27, the highest price since September 2008. Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU:US) increased 3.3 percent to $46.07. Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. (YZC:US) advanced 3.9 percent to $23.77, the highest price since Jan. 19.

Bell Microproducts Inc. (BELM:US) soared 28 percent, the most since December 2008, to $6.91. Avnet Inc. (AVT:US), the U.S. distributor of electronic parts agreed to buy Bell for $252 million, or $7 a share, in cash to expand its reach in storage and computing products.

Avnet, which also boosted its third-quarter earnings forecast, gained 4.9 percent, the most since Oct. 29, to $29.75.

Boeing Co. (BA:US) rose 2.1 percent to $74.11, the highest price since June 2008. The world’s second-largest commercial- plane maker said the wings of a parked 787 Dreamliner showed initially “positive” results from a stress test that will determine whether the program can move ahead toward certification to carry passengers by year-end, following five delays.

Bway Holding Co. (BWY:US) rallied 16 percent, the most since May 5, to $20.07. Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, the Chicago-based private-equity firm, agreed to buy the metal- and plastic- container maker in a transaction valued at $915 million including debt.

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. (CBG:US) increased 6.9 percent, the most since Aug. 20, to $15.98. The world’s largest commercial real estate broker was upgraded to “buy” from‘ ‘neutral” by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and added to the firm’s “conviction buy” list.

China Yuchai International Ltd. (CYD:US) rose 20 percent, the most since April 15, to $18.01. The country’s largest maker of diesel engines is worth $33 a share as earnings will benefit from the government’s stimulus plan, Barron’s reported, citing Mark Hake of Hake Investment Research.

Continental Resources Inc. (CLR:US) gained 9.8 percent, the most since May 6, to $41.23. The U.S. oil company controlled by Oklahoma billionaire Harold Hamm was upgraded to “outperform” from “market perform” by Morgan Keegan.

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (DWA:US) slipped 8.1 percent, the most since April 6, to $39.34. The company’s “How to Train Your Dragon” posted $43.3 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend, missing the $60 million estimated by Wedbush Securities.

InVentiv Health Inc. (VTIV:US) advanced 11 percent to $22.25, the highest price since August 2008. The provider of marketing services to drug companies said it has been approached by investors regarding a possible acquisition of the company and has formed a special board committee that has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. as a financial adviser.

Kid Brands Inc. (KID:US) surged 21 percent, the most since May 14, to $8. The maker of infant furniture and toys said it earned 61 cents a share in the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $5.14 a year earlier.

Maxygen Inc. (MAXY:US) surged 10 percent, the most since Nov. 13, to $6.49. Codexis Inc., in which Maxygen owns a 21.4 percent stake, filed an amended initial public offering document with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN:US) rose 8 percent, the most since April 28, to $40.73. The natural gas and crude oil producer was raised to “buy” from “neutral” at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV:US) lost 6.6 percent, the most since Feb. 3, to $3.25. The Georgia bank was cut to “underperform” from “market perform” at FBR Capital Markets Corp.

Synutra International Inc. (SYUT:US) advanced 13 percent, the most since June 26, to $22.53. The Chinese maker of infant formula was upgraded to “buy” from “hold” by Roth Capital Partners.

Talbots Inc. (TLB:US) climbed 13 percent, the most since Dec. 8, to $12.99. The women’s clothing chain was upgraded to “buy” from “hold” by Lazard Capital Markets, which said the company has a “robust recovery story under way.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Lu Wang in New York at lwang8@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 29, 2010 16:23 EDT

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