Retail HOLDRS (RTH), an undivided index of retail merchandisers, closed at $94.61. RTH overall option implied volatility of 20 is below its 26-week average of 24, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Gold Fields (GFI) closed $14.74. Gold is recently up 0.52% to $1170, according to Bloomberg. Gold Fields is an unhedged producer of gold. December and January option implied volatility of 48 is below its 26-week average of 54, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Minyanville's top dog, Todd Harrison, dares to ask in public what Wall Street types quietly consider in private. For more insight and ideas, visit www.Minyanville.com.

• If the next generation Apple (AAPL) iPhone is effectively a handheld computer, is the personal computer space a place to poke on the short side?

• What's the franchise value for Sun Microsystems (SUNW, er, JAVA)?
  
  
• Maybe that's the problem. In this ADD, immediate gratification world, perhaps folks don't remember that JAVA used to be SUNW?
  
  
Woah. Nelly?


Given that funky looking Gold Fields (GFI) chart, should I stress that I'm playing name through defined risk calls?


• In addition to the note that when I unwind my short crude I'm goning to sneak out of my long metal play, too?
  
  
• While I grabbed some tertiary financial exposure this morning, why is "Good traders know how to make money while great traders know how to take a loss" repeating in my keppe as I watch the action and overhang in Lehman (LEH)?
  
  
• Speaking of ticker symbols with G's in the front and I's behind, when do I revisit Gannett (GCI), which I pared nicely above $30 and kept some for the thesis?
  
  
Speaking of pairs, how do I get long Jo, short Blair?


R.P.

Positions in LEH, GFI, GCI

"This is a great time to be buying in the gold and silver area," says resources expert Adrian Day. In his Global Analyst newsletter, the money manager and advisor explains, "We are focusing on quality companies in the junior resource sector, following what is traditionally the weak summer period for gold prices."

One favorite of the advisor is Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI), which he notes has a strong balance sheet and long-term reserves. He points out that the stock has been held down as would-be acquirer Harmony sells shares.

In addition, he states, "Goldcorp (NYSE: GG) is one of the strong balance sheets, highest growth outlook, more favorable country risk profiles among the senior miners."

Among silver companies, he says, "Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ: SSRI) has a strong balance sheet (even allowing for a problem in some commercial paper it holds) of C$242 million, including bullion.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: J.B. Hunt Transport (JBHT), Gold Fields (GFI), Anheuser-Busch (BUD), CBS Corp (CBS) and Amerigroup (AGP) were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Wachovia upgraded shares of J.B. Hunt Transport (NASDAQ: JBHT) to Outperform from Market Perform citing strength in the company's Intermodal franchise.

• Matrix USA upgraded Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI) to Buy from Sell, citing the strong demand for gold jewelry from affluent customers in developing markets and investors.

• AG Edwards upgraded Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD) to Buy from Hold based on valuation and improving fundamentals.

• CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SMH Capital based on expectations for CBS to continue to increase its annual dividend 10% a year.

• Jefferies is more confident in Amerigroup's (NYSE: AGP) ability to see further medical cost improvements in its GA market and it its TN expansion, upgrading shares to Buy from Hold...

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Goldman upgraded Micron Tech (NYSE: MU) and Novellus Systems (NVLS) to Neutral from Sell.

• CIBC raised Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer.

• BMO Capital upgraded National City (NYSE: NCC) to Market Perform from Underperform.

• Needham raised OmniVision Tech (NASDAQ: OVTI) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Intel Corp (INTC), Hansen Natural Corp (HANS), Netflix, Inc (NFLX), Marvel Entertainment, Inc (MVL) and Walt Disney Co (DIS) were today's more noteworthy upgrades:

• Goldman upgraded shares of Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) to Buy from Neutral as they believe Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) likely move to an outsourced business model will make it easier for the company to retain a product advantage.

• Goldman also upgraded shares of Hansen Natural Corp (NASDAQ: HANS) to Buy from Neutral based on expectations for sales and earnings acceleration in 2H07, driven by recent distribution agreements, a potential European distribution deal and the possibility of a share buyback.

• Soleil upgraded shares of Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX) to Buy from Hold on valuation as they believe the company will overcome the challenge from Blockbuster (BBI) and outperform the current sentiment.

• Matrix believes strong demand for licensed character products is boosting Marvel Entertainment's (NYSE: MVL) sales and raised its rating on the company to Hold from Strong Sell.

• SMH Capital upgraded The Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) to Buy from Neutral as they believe the Street may be underestimating the free cash flow and earnings power within the Media Networks unit...

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc (NASDAQ: TRMP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Morgan Joseph.

• LG Phillips LCD Co, Ltd (NYSE: LPL) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.

• Cowen raised Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc (AMEX: IMA) to Neutral from Underperform.

• Jefferies upgraded shares of The Pantry, Inc (NASDAQ: PTRY) to Buy from Hold.

• Gold Fields Ltd (NYSE: GFI) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at BMO Capital.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).