WP_Query based on a custom field result

Here’s the corrected code, thanks @Milo!

<ul>

<?php
    $recentPosts = new WP_Query();
    $recentPosts->query('showposts=6&cat=1&meta_key=ticker&meta_value=yes');
?>
<?php while ($recentPosts->have_posts()) : $recentPosts->the_post(); ?>
    <li>

    <?php if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) {?>
    <div class="post-thumb-140">
    <a href="https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/78477/<?php the_permalink() ?>"><?php the_post_thumbnail( 'post-thumb-140' ); ?></a> 
    </div> <!--post-thumb-->
    <?php } ?>

        <a href="https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/questions/78477/<?php the_permalink() ?>" rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a>
    </li>
<?php endwhile; ?>

</ul>