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Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG)'s board could approve a deal to sell half its nuclear power business to Electricite de France (ECIFF) for $4.5 billion as early as this week. This comes after CEG had an already-agreed deal with MidAmerican Energy, a company owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A). CEG shares were 5.3% higher in premarket trade.

Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) was rated Underperform by Friedman, Billings, Ramsey. The analyst said the stock could fall as low as $9 due to the bank's "thin tangible common equity" being a chief concern. The analyst recommended "that investors stay away from the stock" for now and he estimates the bank will lose $77 billion, or 8.1% of its total loans, in the coming years. Meanwhile, B of A cuts continue and don't spare top ranks as the bank purged about 20 high-ranking executives last week. BAC shares traded a little higher in premarket.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is also beginning to suffer due to the recession and the dismal holiday season. According to The Wall Street Journal, "sales of Macs in U.S. stores last month declined 1% from a year ago, while industry-wide PC sales rose 2%, according to research firm NPD Group Inc., which tracks retail sales." This is quite the reversal of recent trend but perhaps not surprising in this economic climate as PCs are generally priced cheaper. A rumor also started circling in the blogosphere that Apple will launch an upgrade to its low-end desktop, the Mac Mini, at January's Macworld Expo. Despite WSJ's article, AAPL shares were a little higher in premarket.

Analyst calls:
JP Morgan upgraded Safeway (NYSE: SWY) and Kroger (NYSE: KR) from Underperform to Neutral, but downgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) from Overweight to Underweight.