Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Barrick Gold (ABX) to buy from hold and reiterates a buy rating on Newmont Mining (NEM) after upping its 2011 gold forecast to $1,450 per ounce and 2012 forecast to $1,600 per ounce. The firm upped its target for Barrick shares to $53 from $45, for Newmont shares to $74 from $72, and on hold-rated Goldcorp (GG) and Kinross Gold (KGC) to $40 and $20, respectively.
• Citigroup upgraded General Dynamics (GD) to hold from sell following the recent pullback in shares. The firm keeps a $67 price target for the stock.
• UBS upgraded Public Service (PEG) to buy from neutral and has a $34 price target on the stock. The firm cites the company's solid balance sheet, earnings profile, and valuation for the upgrade.
• News Corp. (NWS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Soleil.
• AK Steel (AKS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform.
• Progress Energy (PGN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• PNC Financial (PNC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Lincare Holdings, Gentiva Health, Five Star Quality Care, Arris and U.S. Steel Group were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Lincare Holdings (NASDAQ: LNCR) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they now believe the likelihood that Congress could severely cut Medicare oxygen reimbursement this year is priced into shares.
  
• Jefferies also upgraded Gentiva Health (NASDAQ: GTIV) to Buy from Hold on valuation, as they believe the recent sell-off is overdone.
  
• RBC Capital raised Five Star Quality Care (AMEX: FVE) to Outperform from Sector Perform, as they believe the company's Q3 report could be better than expected and that census and outlook are improving.
  
• CIBC upgraded shares of Arris Group (NASDAQ: ARRS) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer on valuation as they believe the weakness in the stock is overdone.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) to Buy from Hold, as they expect the company to be a major beneficiary of rising raw material costs. Further, Deutsche thinks Lone Star and Stelco will be catalysts for earnings growth in 2008.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• VeraSun Energy Corporation (NYSE: VSE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• UST Inc (NYSE: UST) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded BASF AG (OTC: BASFY) to Overweight from Neutral.
  
• Avondale Partners upgraded Polaris Industries (NYSE: PII) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Sigma Designs, Satyam and Genpact were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Deutsche Bank initiated shares of Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) with a Buy rating and $62 target, as they believe the company can maintain its leadership position in the fast-growing IPTV and high-def DVD markets. Baird said Sigma's IPTV momentum is accelerating, Blu-ray demand in strong, and Ultrawideband is the next growth opportunity. The firm resumed coverage with an Outperform rating.
  
• Banc of America started shares of Satyam Computer Services (NYSE: SAY) with a Neutral rating and $39 target on valuation, as they believe better value exists in peers Cognizant Technology (NASDAQ: CTSH) and Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY).
  
• UBS initiated Genpact (NYSE: G) with a Neutral rating and $18 target on valuation.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Goldman resumed coverage of HealthSpring (NYSE: HS) with a Neutral rating and $23 target.
  
• Wachovia initiated Gentiva Health (NASDAQ: GTIV) with an Outperform rating.