Analyst calls: XLNX, STLD, ICE, NYX, MT, JOYG, CME, LLL, AAPL, ENR ...

Analyst upgrades:

Jefferies upgraded Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX) to Buy from Hold and raised its target to $22 from $17 on valuation and the company's "diversified" business.
Barclays expects Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD) to outperform in Q1 as investors become more comfortable with the company's balance sheet. Shares were upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight.
Keefe Bruyette upgraded Asset Acceptance (NASDAQ: AACC) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation but lowered their target to $6 from $8.
Blackrock (NYSE: BLK) and Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) were added to Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
Lattice (NASDAQ: LSCC) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.

Analyst downgrades:

Jefferies downgraded NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) to Hold from Buy on expectations that slowing cash volumes, increasing European competition and weakening demand for derivative products will limit the company's earnings power in 2009. The firm lowered its target to $32 from $35.
JP Morgan downgraded Joy Global (NASDAQ: JOYG) and Bucyrus (NASDAQ: BUCY) to Underweight from Neutral following the weaker than expected 2009 outlook.
Deutsche Bank downgraded Atheros (NASDAQ: ATHR) to Hold from Buy following the company's negative pre-announcement and lowered their target price to $14 from $20.
Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) and Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC) were removed from Goldman's Conviction Buy List.
Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jesup & Lamont.
Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) was cut to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays.

Analyst initiations:

Oppenhimer initiated Endo Pharma (NASDAQ: ENDP) with an Outperform rating and $28 target. The firm believes growth of the company's core pain franchise will drive upside to 2008 guidance.
Jefferies started CME Group (NYSE: CME) with a Hold rating and $230 target and believes the multi-year secular expansion in global trading volume has ended and that 2009 will be a transitional year.
Morgan Keegan is positive on L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) given its rapid growth, positioning in the defense electronics market, and valuation, among other reasons. Shares were initiated with an Outperform rating.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was assumed with a Hold rating and $80 target at Canaccord.
Energizer (NYSE: ENR) was initiated at UBS with a Neutral rating and $48 target.
Sun Healthcare (NASDAQ: SUNH) was started at Stanford with a Buy rating.