Analyst Upgrades

• UBS upgraded Potash (POT) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $112 from $106. UBS raised its 2011 potash production estimates based on expectations for a tighter market and notes the potential for China to import substantial amounts of corn.
• BMO Capital upgraded Peabody Energy (BTU) to outperform from market perform. The firm, which has a $49 target on the stock, cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded City Holding (CHCO) to buy from neutral with a $37 price target, citing the recent pullback in shares.
• Boston Scientific (BSX) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• Pegasystems (PEGA) was upgraded to buy from hold at Roth Capital.
• Wendy's/Arby's (WEN) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.

U.S. stock futures fell sharply Tuesday morning, indicating a continuation of one of the worst Mays on record. This morning, investors are digesting several worrisome news on top of the ongoing concerns over eurozone sovereign debt and global economic recovery. BP's failed "top-kill" operation, disagreements between American International Group and Prudential over the sale of AIG's Asian arm, and Hewlett-Packard's job cuts are a few of the more disconcerting headlines.

World stocks fell Tuesday amid similar concerns, enhanced by a report that showed Chinese manufacturing slowed in May, underlining Asian manufacturers and exporters remain vulnerable to waning of demand in Europe and elsewhere. Shares in Asia closed lower, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.6% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng falling 1.4%.

U.S. stock futures edged higher Friday, as bargain hunters continue to seek oversold stocks. With concerns over eurozone debt woes receding and improved confidence about global economic outlook, investors await several economic indicators due out this morning.

U.S. stocks rallied Thursday after China denied it was going looking into its eurozone debt holdings. Market climbed from nine-month low as the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 284 points, or 2.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite finished the day 3.7% higher. For May, however, the Dow is still 6.8% lower.

U.S. stock futures fell again Wednesday morning, indicating Wall Street may open the session lower, a day after markets tumbled over 2%. Concerns over Greece's sovereign debt problem and fear of contagion in the euro zone continued. Meanwhile, more earnings are on tap, as well as some economic data.

U.S. stocks sank Tuesday in heavy trade, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average sliding 225 points, or 2%, the S&P 500 shedding 2.4% and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 3%. Worries that Greece's debt problems would extend to Spain and Portugal were exacerbated by rumors that were later denied that Spain asked the IMF for help.

The American taxpayers are about to get another return on their investment in the bailout of American International Group (AIG). Prudential Plc (PUK), the largest insurer in the UK, is going to buy AIG's Asian operations for $35.5 billion in cash and stock. Prudential will pick up more than 20 million new customers, and the federal government will squeeze out a bit of financial relief.

The deal, which is for AIG's AIA Group, consists of $25 billion in cash and $10.5 billion in stock and other securities. Prudential will raise $20 billion in a rights offering and $5 billion through a bond issue to cover the cash portion of its offer.

U.S. stock futures advanced Monday following a flurry of deals over the weekend and Monday, most notably, the sale of American International Group's Asia operations. Investors also awaited several economic reports, including data on manufacturing and consumer spending. Meanwhile, hopes of a Greek bailout lifted world markets.

On Friday, following some encouraging news that GDP was revised higher, but also some disappointing news from the housing market, Wall Street closed relatively unchanged. Today, however, deal activity seems to be pushing markets higher.

American International Group (NYSE: AIG), once the world's largest insurer, is selling assets outside the U.S. to repay a government bailout. The Carlyle Group, KKR, JC Flowers, and other U.S. private equity firms and Asian financial groups are reported to be interested in AIG's Taiwanese unit Nan Shan Life Insurance Co.

"Everyone hopes this is going to be a fire sale as AIG is in a difficult situation," said a local partner of Standard & Poor's.

Analyst upgrades:

• PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Fortress (NYSE: FIG) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
• Prudential (NYSE: PUK) was lifted to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Outperform from Market Perform and added shares to their Best Ideas List on valuation as they see an attractive risk/reward at current levels.
• UBS upgraded ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the company remains a market leader.
• Oppenheimer raised Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) to Outperform from Perform on valuation following the recent weakness as they expect positive clinical news flow beginning in December.

Analyst downgrades:

• UBS downgraded U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) to Sell from Buy and lowered its target to $30 from $60 citing deteriorating U.S. conditions and concerns about the company's high fixed costs in a falling steel price environment.
• Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) was lowered to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

Analyst upgrades:

• Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  
• Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
• AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.
• B. Riley upgraded S&T Bancorp (NASDAQ: STBA) to Buy from Neutral and lowered its target to $35 from $38 on valuation, as they believe the sell-off post-Q3 results is overdone.
  
• Jefferies upgraded GSI Commerce (NASDAQ: GSIC) to Buy from Hold on valuation after Q4 revenue guidance was reset lower. The firm lowered their target to $13 from $18.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded shares of DHT Maritime (NYSE: DHT) and General Maritime (NYSE: GMR) to Overweight from Neutral on the company's valuation and dividend stability.

Analyst downgrades:

• HSBC cut Prudential (NYSE: PUK) to Neutral from Overweight as they believe capital has eroded and debt refinancing is increasingly difficult.
  
• Freeport McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman.
  
• Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI) was lowered to Hold from Buy at Citigroup and to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: MSC Industrial, Prudential plc and GrafTech were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• William Blair upgraded shares of MSC Industrial (NYSE: MSM) to Outperform from Market Perform on valuation and improved execution following the company's Q2 results.
  
• Keefe Bruyette raised Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) to Outperform from Underperform as they believe the company's targets will be exceeded.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded GrafTech (NYSE: GTI) to Outperform from Perform based on strong fundamentals, improving margins, and a strong 2008 order book.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• HFF Inc. (NYSE: HF) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• Lehman raised Canadian Natural (NYSE: CNQ) to Overweight from Equal Weight.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The European insurance industry, Deutsche Telekom and Aruba Networks were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Bear Stearns downgraded the European insurance industry to Market Weight from Overweight on concerns the companies are exposed to risky assets following the U.S. subprime mortgage collapse. In conjunction with the sector downgrade, Bear Stearns downgraded ING (NYSE: ING) to Underperform from Peer Perform and Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) to Peer Perform from Outperform.
  
• JP Morgan downgraded shares of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT) to Underweight from Neutral on concerns over increased competition and U.S. market risks.
  
• Jefferies downgraded shares of Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) to Hold from Buy and lowered their target to $13 from $21, as they believe recent delays of 802.11n could impact FY09 sales and potential market share gains and that the valuation is rich at current levels.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Lehman downgraded Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  
• B. Riley downgraded Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Wal-Mart Stores, Magna International, EchoStar Communications, Westell Technologies and SiRF Technology were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Rochdale upgraded shares of Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) to Buy from Hold citing improved outlook for margins and ROIC.
• CIBC World Markets resumed coverage and upgraded shares of Magna International (NYSE: MGA) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer as they believe higher multiples are warranted due to the company's improving earnings power and cash flow generation.
  
• Oppenheimer upgraded shares of EchoStar Communications (NASDAQ: DISH) to Buy from Neutral as they believe recent events add $4-$6 per share to their valuation analysis.
  
• Westell Technologies (NASDAQ: WSTL) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird. The firm believes Westell is taking the right steps to improve its market position and financial performance.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded SiRF Technology Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRF) to Outperform from Neutral, expecting the stock to benefit from a strong holiday season at electronic retailers.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Goldman upgraded Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) to Neutral from Sell and Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Oriental Financial Group (NYSE: OFG) to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Prudential plc (NYSE: PUK) was raised to Outperform from Peer Perform.
  
• Wachovia upgraded Kindred Healthcare Inc (NYSE: KND) to Market Perform from Underperform.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) may not be able to control expenses, but its sure can buy companies. The big U.S. financial service company has just bought British online banking outfit Egg from Prudential (NYSE:PUK). The price was apparently £575 million. For 2006, Egg lost £145 million from operations.

Citi seems to be taking a tack opposite to what most of its investors want. The company's stock has sharply underperformed U.S. rivals including Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS).

Citi's CEO, Mr. Prince, has shown little or no adroitness at cutting costs, something the market has been calling for over the past several quarters.

But, he can spend the bank's money on acquisitions like a real pro.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.