Avant Shares Soar on Judge’s Move

Avant Corp. shares climbed after the company said a federal judge indicated he won’t include its new design software Aquarius under an existing injunction preventing the sale of its ArcCell software. The Fremont-based company is in a protracted legal battle with rival Cadence Design Systems Inc. over whether it stole the basic framework for the product that helps speed the design of computer chips. Cadence said U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte hasn’t issued a written order yet, and the company is confident it can present evidence to show that the injunction should be extended. San Jose-based Cadence also said the judge indicated the case may move more quickly toward a jury trial. Whyte had said a trial would have to wait until after the completion of a related criminal trial charging some Avant employees with stealing Cadence trade secrets. Avant shares jumped $6 to close at $24.88 on Nasdaq. Cadence shares rose 6 cents to $34.88 on the New York Stock Exchange.