With bonds closed and banks closed, equities here in the U.S. had a hard time trying to decide which direction the wind was blowing. The DJIA 11,000 mark was flirted with again in afternoon trading, this time on the downside on what appears to have been a positive close. Some M&A was a help, but investors used today and will likely use tomorrow to determine how they want to be positioned as earnings season kicks off.

Here were today's unofficial closing levels:

Dow Jones 11,008.59 +2.11 (0.02%)
S&P 500 1,165.04 -0.11 (-0.01%)
Nasdaq 2,402.33 +0.42 (0.02%)

TOP ANALYST CALLS
BIOHEALTH DAILY

Early Monday morning, trading was halted on Gymboree (GYMB) after an announcement that Bain Capital Partners would acquire the children's clothing company. Reportedly, the definitive agreement calls for Bain to pay $65.40 per share for Gymboree, or $1.8 billion.

According to the terms of the agreement, Gymboree stockholders will receive $65.40 cash for each outstanding share of Gymboree common stock owned. This price is a 57.4% premium to Gymboree's share price on September 30, 2010 -- the date that takeover rumors began. And the $65.40 is a 23.5% premium over Friday's closing price of $52.95.

Analyst upgrades:

• Credit Suisse upgraded Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to Outperform from Neutral and raised its target to $55 from $44 based on earnings momentum and a bottom in the Imaging and Printing segment. Note that Dell was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform.
• Jefferies upgraded Covance (NYSE: CVD) to Buy from Hold as it believes investor expectations are more reasonable following the company's conference presentation and that its Late Stage segment should continue to post strong results. The firm raised its target on shares to $65 from $5.
• Stephens upgraded Home Bancshares (NASDAQ: HOMB) to Overweight from Equal Weight to reflect improved capital levels and a better-than-expected near-term outlook. The firm raised its target on shares to $27 from $24.
• Citigroup upgraded Macy's (NYSE: M) to Buy from Hold after meeting with management as it believes the My Macy's localization is gaining traction. The firm raised its target on shares to $30 from $15.
• Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
• DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo.
• Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE) was upgraded to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.

Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) to Outperform from Perform following the company's Q2 results to reflect valuation and square footage growth from Crazy 8. The firm has a $52 target on the stock.
• KeyBanc upgraded Lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) to Buy from Hold on expectations sales and margins will improve in the near-term due to clean inventory levels. The firm recommends a pair trade of long Lululemon, short Under Armour (NYSE: UA).
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Allied Capital (NYSE: ALD) to Market Perform from Underperform following the company's Q2 results and raised its target on shares to $3.50 from $1.
• Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
• LogMeln (NASDAQ: LOGM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Barclays (NYSE: BCS) was reinstated with an Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Last week we looked at expectations for some retail earnings. More shopping mall favorites are reporting second-quarter results this week, and analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for significant earnings growth from some of them.

Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO), the teen-focused retailer spun off from Macy's (NYSE: M) in 1998, is expected to post a second-quarter profit that is 44.6% higher than a year ago, or $0.56 per share. Revenue for the quarter is expected to be 19.7% higher, or $451.3 million. For the full year, the forecast so far is for $2.98 per share (+25.8%) on $2.2 billion (+14.6%). Earnings of the New York-based company have matched estimates in recent quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 13.9%, which is better than the retail industry average and rival Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF). Aeropostale's earnings multiple is 12x, and this debt-free company's cash flow from operations swung into positive territory in the first quarter. The First Call consensus recommendation is to buy ARO; The Motley Fool identified it as a Wall Street favorite. Shares are down a couple of bucks from the 52-week high of $38.74 back in July, but are still 123.0% higher year to date.

"Golf has Tiger Woods, novelists have Tom Clancy, and the investment community has stars such as Bruce Berkowitz, Bill Nygren, Charlie Dreifus, and Mario Gabelli," states Paul Tracy.

In his The Street Authority Market Advisor, he suggests, "These money managers are at the pinnacle of their craft." Here, he takes a look at these "celebrities" and some of their current top stock holdings.

"These money managers have all amassed prodigious gains over the years for their shareholders. Over the past few months, these gurus have come out with ringing endorsements for certain stocks. This isn't empty talk -- they are putting their money where their mouth is.

Analyst upgrades:

• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Gymboree (NASDAQ:GYMB) to Buy from Underperform and raised their target to $33 from $15 following the company's Q1 comparable store sales guidance.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) to Outperform from Perform after channel checks indicated the company's shipments are gaining momentum. The firm raised their price target on the stock to $35 from $20.
  
• Owens & Minor (NYSE:OMI) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse. The firm upgraded shares but lowered their target to $45 from $46 citing underappreciated earnings growth and valuation.
• Albermarle (NYSE:ALB) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Protective Life (NYSE:PL) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  
• Maxim (NASDAQ:MXIM) was lifted to Buy from Hold at Canaccord.

After testifying before a Senate committee about AIG (NYSE: AIG) last week, the Fed's Ben Bernanke participates in a Council of Foreign Relations event Monday evening.

Economic data due to be released this week include wholesale trade and job vacancies for January on Tuesday morning, the U.S. Treasury budget for February on Wednesday, retail sales for February and business inventories for January on Thursday morning, and the U.S. trade balance for January on Friday morning.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Lubrizol (NYSE: LZ) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe economic weakness is already priced into the stock. Despite upgrading, Citigroup lowered their target price to $32 from $36.
  
• UBS believes AT&T (NYSE: T) consensus estimates are beatable and that the 7.1% dividend yield is safe. Additionally, the firm said a strike is possible when the unionized wireline employee contract expires on April 4th but expects the company to succeed in lowering healthcare benefits. Shares were upgraded to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) to Market Perform from Underperform as they believe guidance appropriately reset expectations and that the risk/reward is neutral at current levels. The firm lowered their target price to $16 from $17. Shares were also upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies after the Q1 results to reflect better-than-expected cost cuts and an attractive risk/reward at current levels.
• Lousiana Pacific (NYSE: LPX) was raised to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.
  
• OmniVision (NASDAQ: OVTI) was upgraded at Baird to Neutral from Underperform.

Last week, JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) posted a quarterly loss and lowered its guidance. But as interest in alternative energy continues to grow, analysts polled by Thomson Financial are still looking for good things from solar energy concerns scheduled to report earnings this week.

Strong growth at Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) in the third quarter prompted it to lift its guidance back in October. Analysts expect the Chinese company to post profits that are 76.3% higher than a year ago, or $1.18 per share on revenues of $268.4 million (+225.0%). Though Trina Solar missed estimates in the second quarter, analysts on average recommend buying TSL. Shares are down 81.4% from a year ago and trading near an all-time low.

Earnings of rival LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) are expect to have risen 47.9% to $0.71 per share on revenues of $486.7 million (+206.6%). Also based in China, LDK has not missed estimates in recent quarters; in fact, it blew past expectations in the second quarter. Yet the consensus recommendation is to hold LDK. Like Trina Solar, LDK's shares are trading near an all-time low; the share price has fallen 50.0% in the past year.

Analysts anticipate third-quarter earnings for Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to be a whopping 96.3% higher than a year ago, or $0.54 per share on revenues of $248.0 million (+154.5%). The company easily topped estimates in the previous quarter. ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) and Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) are also expected to report earnings growth of 29.7% ($0.37 per share) and 23.8% ($0.42 per share), respectively. All three of these stocks reached 52-week lows last week, and all are considered buys.

Rival home improvement chains Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) are scheduled to report quarterly results this week. Not surprisingly, given the ongoing housing slump, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial on average expect both companies to post earnings lower than in the same period a year ago. For Home Depot, that's 61 cents per share, down 20.8%, and for Lowe's, 56 cents per share, down 16.4%. Meanwhile, cabinet maker American Woodmark Corp. (NASDAQ: AMWD), for whom Home Depot and Lowe's are major distributors, is also expected to report lower earnings: 11 cents per share, down 67.6%.

The presidential campaigns have prompted much discussion of energy policy and alternative energy sources. Some solar-energy-related concerns are scheduled to report this week, and expectations seem to be high. Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) is expected to report 81 cents per share earnings, up 67.9%; ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) is expected to post earnings of 32 cents per share, up 62.5%; and Suntech Power Holdings Co. (NYSE: STP) is expected to have earnings of 32 cents per share, up 21.9%. Even China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUN) is expected to have swung to a profit of 3 cents per share, from a per-share loss of 14 cents a year ago.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Tronox, Willis Group and Synovus FInancial were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Lehman downgraded Tronox (NYSE: TRX) to Underweight from Equal Weight citing increased costs in freight, process, and energy costs, and end market weakness.
  
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Willis Group (NYSE: WSH) to Hold from Buy as they believe the acquisition of Hilb, Rogal and Hobbs (NYSE: HRH) will limit margins and stock upside through 2009. Citigroup lowered their target price to $36 from $40.
  
• Morgan Keegan downgraded Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV) to Market Perform from Outperfrom citing concerns related to potential losses to the construction and development portfolio and a likely dividend cut.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Tween Brands (NASDAQ: TWB) and Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) were downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Friedman Billings.
  
• Jefferies cut Asset Acceptance (NASDAQ: AACC) to Underperform from Hold.
  
• Merill downgraded Orient-Express (NYSE: OEH) to Underperform from Neutral.

First quarter results for apparel retailers reporting earnings on Wednesday were mixed, as consumers continue to scale back their spending.

Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB) first-quarter profit dropped 69% to 3 cents per share, hurt by noncore operations and restructuring charges. Same-store sales fell 9.8% during the quarter, and revenue fell 5% to $542.4 million, which missed the estimates of analysts polled by Thomson Financial. Shares rose 6% Wednesday to $7.88.

Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTT) first-quarter loss widened to 3 cents per share due to a 2.8% drop in same-store sales. Revenue rose 1.1% to $159 million. Analysts had expected a loss of 4 cents per share on $159.3 million in revenue. Shares fell 13 cents, or 2.6%, to $4.84.

Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE: TWB) first-quarter profit declined on a hefty charge, but results still topped Wall Street expectations. Adjusted earnings per share were 21 cents, and revenues rose to $251.7 million. Analysts had expected 16 cents in earnings per share and sales of $242 million. Total same-store sales decreased 1%. Shares fell more than 10% to $19.20, but rebounded 7.5% in after-hours trading.

Monday October 8

• PDUFA date for Theravance Inc's (NASDAQ: THRX) Telavancin for complicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive bacteria

Tuesday October 9

• Yum! Brands Inc (NYSE: YUM) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 9:15am
• Optimal Group Inc (NASDAQ: OPMR) to hold conference call at 11am to discuss the WowWee acquisition
• Penn Treaty American Corporation (NYSE: PTA) to hold operational update at 11am
• Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 5pm

Wednesday October 10

• Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11am
• Hot Topic Inc (NASDAQ: HOTT) and Zumiez Inc (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) reporting monthly sales at 4pm

Thursday October 11

• Pepsico Inc (NYSE: PEP) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 11am
• Bebe Stores Inc (NASDAQ: BEBE) to report monthly sales at 7am, Limited Brands Inc (NYSE: LTD) and The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc (NASDAQ: PLCE) at 7:30am, The Gymboree Corporation (NASDAQ: GYMB) at 7:55am, AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN), Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) at 8am, Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) at 8:30am.

Friday October 12

• PDUFA date for GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (NYSE: GSK) Hycamtin for relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer

Despite the stock's lackluster after-hours performance, children's apparel and toy company Gymboree (NASDAQ: GYMB) reported earnings that beat Street estimates and raised its full year guidance after the bell.

For the quarter, Gymboree earned 19 cents per share on $182.4 million in revenues. These results, which demonstrated huge year-over-year growth, managed to beat the consensus estimate, which was looking for 15 cents per share on $180 million sales.

Additionally, the company increased its third quarter and full year outlook. Gymboree now expects to earn 84-87 cents per share in the third quarter, leading me to believe the company will be able to beat the current consensus estimate of 88 cents per share. For the year, the company expects to earn $2.50-$2.53 per share, an increase from its previous guidance of $2.42-$2.46 per share. Again, I think the full year consensus estimate of $2,55 per share should be rather easy to beat.

While it seems surprising at first that the stock sold off on this news, this seems like a classic "buy the rumor, sell the news" reaction. The stock rose nearly 5% during the day, presumably on whispers of a solid quarter, and the earnings report didn't bring in enough buyers to offset those who were closing their pre-earnings trades.