Analyst Upgrades

• Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Boston Scientific (BSX) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Windstream (WIN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Expeditors (EXPD) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• A123 Systems (AONE) to neutral from underperform and Chesapeake Midstream (CHKM) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AvalonBay (AVB) to outperform from neutral and Post Properties (PPS) to neutral from underperform at Cowen.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deere (DE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• American Eagle (AEO) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• FedEx (FDX) and Shaw (SJR) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Superior Energy (SPN) and Rowan Cos. (RDC) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Tesoro (TSO) to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• Mechel (MTL) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• SunPower (SPWRA), LDK Solar (LDK) and First Solar (FSLR) to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.

Stocks had another day where the exact footing was never very clear. Despite a slightly better weekly jobs figure, the dollar was up and a poor long-bond auction was mixed in with a mixed reaction from commodities markets. The debate over QE2 rages on.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow Jones 11,355.22 +8.47 (0.07%)
S&P 500 1,218.62 +5.22 (0.43%)
Nasdaq 2,578.78 +15.80 (0.62%)

Top Analyst Calls

As the economy continues to sputter, President Obama is trying to find new ways to get things back on track. While still in the early stages, it looks like his plan will include key tax breaks, which could amount to as much as $200 billion over the next couple years.

First, the plan will allow companies to write off 100% of new investment in capital and factories. Of course, all companies can deduct such purchases -- through depreciation. But it can take as much as 30 years. But the new plan would greatly accelerate the process to one year.

On its second-quarter results, the shares of A123 Systems (AONE) plunged 18%. A leader in the emerging greentech industry -- with its lithium-ion batteries -- the stock volatility is not new. In light of the heavy expenses and fierce competition, shareholders are likely to experience a roller-coaster ride for some time.

In the latest quarter, A123 posted a $34.2 million loss, which was up form a loss of $21.9 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues increased 14% to $122.6 million.

Analyst upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded Boeing (BA) to outperform from market perform. The firm is more confident about the company's earnings growth going forward.
• Oppenheimer upgraded H&R Block (HRB) to outperform from perform on expectations the company will improve performance in 2011. The firm has a $22 price target for shares.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded SunTrust (STI) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and expectations the company's credit will improve. The firm raised its target for shares to $34 from $29.
• Children's Place (PLCE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Taubman Centers (TCO) was upgraded to neutral from sell at UBS.
• Cavium Networks (CAVM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.

Analyst Upgrades

• Oppenheimer upgraded ConocoPhillips (COP) to outperform from perform after the company sold its stake in Syncrude. The firm has a $70 price target for shares.
• Leerink upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to outperform from market perform. The firm sees upside to the company's 2010 guidance and finds shares attractively valued at currently levels.
• Citigroup upgraded both Mirant (MIR) and RRI Energy (RRI) to hold from sell after the two companies agreed to merge.
• Cooper Companies (COO) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Expedia (EXPE) was upgraded to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• A123 Systems (AONE) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Intel (INTC) to buy from hold to reflect the stock's relative valuation after channel checks indicated PC shipment plans continue to be solid. The firm raised its target price on shares to $24 from $20.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded RenaissanceRE (RNR) to buy from hold on valuation and believes stock buybacks and reserve releases will drive the company's growth. The firm raised its target price on shares to $65 from $59.
• UBS upgraded Philip Morris (PM) to buy from neutral based on increased confidence in its earnings outlook and relative valuation. The firm raised its target to $54 from $49.
• Chevron (CVX) was raised to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Barnes & Noble (BKS) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman Sachs.
• Deutsche Bank (DB) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

The market seems to want to go up each day as it has relentlessly almost every trading session since April. But yesterday, it had a tiny setback after the FOMC announcement. Today the culprit was housing. The National Association of Realtors said existing home sales declined 2.7% in August. Every economist worth his salt said the number would rise.

Good news on the unemployment front did give the market an early boost this morning. Within an hour, though, bad news on the housing sales front wiped out the gains and moved the major indices into negative territory, where they have remained.

Here were today's unofficial closing numbers:

Dow 9,706.99 -41.56 (-0.43%)
S&P 500 1,050.78 -10.09 (-0.95%)
Nasdaq 2,107.61 -23.81 (-1.12%)

A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE) got its start back in 2001 in Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang's laboratory in MIT. Along with two others -- Gilbert N. Riley, Jr., and Ric Fulop -- he saw a huge opportunity to build new battery technology. While it took six years to hit the market, it was well worth the effort.

Today, A123 launched its IPO (here's a profile on the deal). The company sold 28.1 million shares at $13.50 each. With this slug of capital, A123 can continue to build out its operations and capitalize on the growth opportunities.