MOST NOTEWORTHY: Telefonica, Affymax and Hatteras Financial were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Deutsche Bank initiated Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) with a Buy rating and believes concerns of an economic slowdown in Spain are overdone and that company is on track to make 2008 guidance.
  
• Baird assumed coverage of Affymax (NADAQ: AFFY) with an Outperform rating and $25 target. The firm believes the market has discounted the regulatory and commercial prospects of lead compound Hematide, which they believe is a $800M revenue opportunity, and recommends buying shares aggressively in the mid-$20s.
  
• Shares of Hatteras Financial (NYSE: HTS) were started with an Outperform rating and $35 target at Friedman Billings. The firm believes management has the opportunity to stabilize its agency portfolio and generate a return on invested capital of about 20%.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Caris assumed OmniVision (NASDAQ: OVTI) with a Buy rating and $15 target.
  
• Pioneer Natural (NYSE: PXD) was initiated at UBS with a Buy rating and $110 target.
  
• UBS also initiated CME Group (NYSE: CME) with a Neutral rating and $430 target.
  
• Allied Capital (NYSE: ALD) was assumed with a Buy rating and $14.40 target at Merrill Lynch.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Taleo, Hatteras Financial and Harmonic were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Baird initiated Taleo (NASDAQ:TLEO) with a Neutral citing uncertainty regarding the integration plan and financial guidance regarding the Vurv acquisition.
  
• Wachovia believes Hatteras Financial (NYSE:HTS) is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in the Agency RMBS sector given the steep yield curve & slow mortgage payments, low expense structure, and Agency-only strategy. Shares were initiated with an Outperform rating.
  
• Brean Murray expects Harmonic (NASDAQ:HLIT) to benefit from an increased competitive environment among cable, telco, and satellite operators and their need for encoding and video stream processing equipment. Shares were assumed with a Buy rating and $13 target.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Jesup & Lamont initiated GP Strategies (NYSE:GPX) with a Buy rating and $12.50 target.
  
• Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC) was initiated at BMO Capital with a Market Perform rating.
  
• UBS assumed Genesis Energy (AMEX:GEL) with a Neutral rating and $22 target.