Three light plays to brighten your day (pun intended) and your portfolio -- and all are linked to rapidly-advancing light technology, including LED lights, that will save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

First, I'll reiterate a previous favorite, General Electric (NYSE: GE). I recommended it first on March 2, 2009. Now I'd raise Sell/Stop Loss to $9.25 from my original Sell/Stop Loss: $3.25. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for GE are 98 cents to 94 cents.

LG Display Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LPL) stock is falling this morning on news that Philips sold about $1 billion worth of its stake in LPL. The company sold the shares at a discount of 4.8 to 8.1 percent, according to news reports, and the deal will reduce Philips stake in the company to 13.5 percent from 19.9 percent. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on LPL.

After hitting a one-year low of $15.87 last March, the stock hit a one-year high of $31.29 in November. This morning, LPL opened at $23.22. So far today the stock has hit a low of $21.88 and a high of $23.44. As of 1:10, LPL is trading at $22.44, down $2.14 (-8.7%). The chart for LPL looks neutral and improving, while S&P gives the stock a neutral 3 Stars (out of 5) Hold rating.

For a bearish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an April bear-call credit spread above the $25 range. A bear-call credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 12.4% return in one and a half months as long as LPL is below $25 at April expiration. LG Display would have to rise by more than 11% before we would start to lose money.

Amsterdam-based Royal Philips Electronics will buy Respironics for $5.2 billion or about $66 per share, Philips announced Friday in a statement.

Respironics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RESP) shares surged more than 20% on the news, gaining $12.23 to $65.34. Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (ADR) (NYSE: PHG) shares declined 80 cents to $43.35 in Friday afternoon trading.

Philips said the acquisition significantly strengthens Philips Healthcare, will provide a strategic platform for further growth, and also leverages the acquisitions of Lifeline and Raytel.

Pennsylvania-based Respironics manufactures masks and ventilators for use in patients homes for the treatment of breathing disorders.

Respironics (NASDAQ: RESP) will be acquired by Philips (NYSE: PHG) for $66 in cash per cash. RESP, a provider of treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, closed at $53.61. RESP over all option implied volatility of 28 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional risk.

Genentech (NYSE: DNA) closed at $67.96. DNA will report EPS on January 14th. DNA January option implied volatility of 30 is above its 26-week average of 26 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.

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

General Electric (NYSE: GE) and Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) could be two big winners if the revised Energy Bill passes the U.S. House and is signed, as expected, by President Bush.

The bill, which moved to the House Tuesday after passage by the U.S. Senate, phases-out the use of incandescent light bulbs in the U.S., Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.

The primary replacement bulb technology, at least for next half-decade, would be fluorescent light bulbs, which typically use only 25-30% of the energy of comparable incandescent bulbs. Philips, the largest light bulb maker in the world with sector leadership in Europe, is expected to be a major beneficiary of the law change, along with No. 2 bulb maker General Electric, the leader in U.S. light bulb sales.

A spokesman for President Bush said the president will sign the legislation. Opposed to the original bill, President Bush reversed his stance after lawmakers revised the bill and dropped both a tax increase for oil and gas companies and a requirement that some utilities get 15% of their power from renewable sources.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Global biotech stocks and Genlyte were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Bernstein said biotech stocks are still not cheap compared to traditional pharma and that catalysts are limited near-term. The firm downgraded stocks including Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) to Neutral.
  
• Genlyte (NYSE:GYLT) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Baird following its acquisition by Philips (NYSE:PHG).

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Keefe Bruyette downgraded First American (NYSE:FAF) to Market Perform from Outperform.
  
• Portugal Telecom (NYSE:PT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill Lynch.
  
• Goldman downgraded the automobiles sector to Cautious from Neutral.

Amsterdam-based Philips (NYSE: PHG) announced Monday it has agreed to purchase U.S.-based Genlyte (NASDAQ: GLYT) group for $2.7 billion.

The deal values Genlyte at about $95.70 per share, or about a 50% premium over Genlyte's Friday closing price. Genlyte's shares surged $31.50 (just over 50%) to $94.17 in Monday morning trading. Philips gained 24 cents to $42.46.

Philips said the deal will strengthen its position in energy-efficient lighting, adding that with Genlyte it will surpass rival General Electric (NYSE: GE) as the largest lighting company in North America. GE's shares fell 14 cents to $37.53.

Stock Analysis: It looks like Philips has executed a smart purchase at a fair price. In Genlyte, Philips will gain greater access to U.S. distributors, which will increase sales of its fluorescent and next-generation light-emitting diode (LED), energy-saving light bulbs. The deal will also add to Philips's manufacturing capacity. Philips has the light bulb / lighting lead in Europe, but (understandably) it trails GE in North America. Hence the Genlyte deal underscores its commitment to compete on both continents with GE, as the market for energy-efficient lighting expands at a healthy rate in the years ahead.

One wouldn't think a light bulb/electronics company could serve as a defensive play, but that's the case with Philips (NYSE: PHG).

Amsterdam-based Philips is the world's No. 1 light bulb manufacturer and a series of converging events has put the company in an advantageous position.

First, technological advancement has driven down the cost of fluorescent light bulbs, which are substantially more efficient than the incandescent bulbs that have been in widespread residential use for decades. Second, Europe's governing bodies have mandated use of the new bulbs to reduce energy use, and hence greenhouse gas emissions. Third, growing environmental awareness among consumers has substantially increased demand for the bulbs in nations where their use is not mandated, such as the United States. Philips shares closed Tuesday down 36 cents to $40.89.

Well, there goes another one of our top 25 for the NEXT 25 years! This morning it was announced that giant medical device company Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) will acquire Kyphon (NASDAQ: KYPH) for $71 a share in an all cash transaction. Great deal for Medtronic and a great deal for Kyphon shareholders. Unfortunately, that takes our NEXT 25 list down to 22 companies left. Hewlett-Packard is acquiring Opsware and Philips of the Netherlands is acquiring Color Kinetics (NASDAQ:CLRK). Now, I have to find the three replacement companies to complete our list of 25!

Medtronic, I have contended for years, is the premiere medical device company in the world. The company is the franchise player in the cardiac world with a multitude of products. The staple of products ranges from cardiac surgical tools to pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators. Medtronic's spinal franchise has had its share of struggles. The company has been set on working with younger patients with spinal afflictions. Kyphon, on the other hand, is very strong in working with older patients with its products that address osteoporosis. This affliction attacks nearly 700,000 woman annually in the United States alone. Kyphon's minimally invasive surgical devices and patented bone-cement were fast becoming the products of choice by surgeons.

The acquisition by Medtronic puts Kyphon's excellent product suite into the best distribution sales and marketing force the medical device industry has ever seen.

Meanwhile, I will continue my research to provide you with 3 more companies to round out our list of the top25 stocks for the NEXT 25 years.

Georges Yared is the CIO of Yared Investment Research.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that the UAW and representatives of Kirk Kerkorian, which made a $4.5B proposal for DaimlerChrysler AGs (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler unit, met to discuss the potential of an employee stock ownership plan and other alternatives to a takeover of the struggling automaker.
• A $25B deal to take SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), known as Sallie Mae, private will most likely remain under the scrutiny of a federal regulator, reported the Wall Street Journal.

OTHER PAPERS:

• The Washington Post reported that the FDA knew years in advance about contamination problems at a Georgia peanut butter plant and on California spinach farms that led to disease outbreaks, documents and interviews show.
• According to an examination by the San Jose Mercury News, a criminal case against Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs in the stock-options backdating investigation looks unlikely.
• According to Cinco Dias, Gottschalks Inc (NYSE: GOT) has hired UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) to explore options of a possible sale or a merger.

WEBSITES:

• Digitimes.com reported that Koninklijke Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) has decided to withdraw from the Taiwan handset market.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: US Steel Corp (X), Nvidia Corp (NVDA), Hansen Natural Corp (HANS), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc (TTWO) were some of today's noteworthy upgrades:

• UBS upgraded US Steel Corp (NYSE: X) to Neutral from Reduce to reflect the Q2 price hike and strong international demand.

• Stifel upgraded Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) to Hold from Sell on valuation.

• JP Morgan upgraded Hansen Natural Corp (NASDAQ: HANS) to Overweight from Neutral citing valuation and recent positive developments.

• Soleil believes Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO) could enjoy support from the success of the investor group in voting in 5 new board directors and replacing the current CEO.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Lehman upgraded LG Philips LCD Co, Ltd (NYSE: LPL) to Equal-Weight from Underweight to reflect an earlier-than-expected turnaround for the LCD industry.

• RBC hiked Sonic Corp (NASDAQ: SONC) up to Peer Perform from Underperform with a $23 target.

• Credit Suisse believes Caterpillar Inc (NYSE: CAT) has the most attractive risk/reward in the construction and farm machinery sector and added the stock to its Focus List today.

• Stifel upgraded Broadcom Corp (NASDAQ: BRCM) To Buy from Hold with a $40 target.

• Matrix USA upgraded NetGear, Inc (NASDAQ: NTGR) to Buy from Hold on valuation.

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

A scant week or so after European leaders targeted reducing the European Union's energy consumption by 20% by 2020 (compared to projected consumption), helped by replacing less-efficient incandescent bulbs with efficient fluorescent bulbs, major manufacturers in Europe said they could meet the deadline, adding that they were already working toward it.

Europe's leaders "should be congratulated on their support" for efficiency standards for street, office, and domestic lighting, Jan Denneman, president of the European Lamp Companies Federation and head of energy-efficient lighting at Philips, told FT.

In the 27-member EU, about 2.1 billion incandescent and related less-efficient bulbs are sold annually, and there about 3.6 billion less-efficient bulbs currently in use in Europe, Philips estimated. Assuming that efficient bulbs, such as fluorescent bulbs, are deployed and cut energy use by 50%, the change could save 20 megatons of carbon dioxide [CO2] or an electric cost saving of $9.2 billion or Eur7 billion, FT reported.

It's been said that some of the best stock investment ideas/decisions take place after an investor reads about the company in a typical American newspaper. Had you read about the recent meeting of leaders of the European Union last week, that would have been the case.

At the meeting, European leaders agreed to have the EU's executive arm develop a plan to promote the use of energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs and phase out/reduce the use of incandescent bulbs, following the example of Australia, Chile and other countries.

Fluorescent bulbs light by heating gas inside a glass tube, compared to incandescent bulbs that heat a filament for light. Fluorescent bulbs emit about 90% of the light of comparable incandescent bulbs but only use about 27% of the energy of an incandescent bulb -- roughly one-fourth the energy, an enormous energy advantage.

In a world seeking to reduce green house gases, cutting electrical power required for lighting by more than 50% is substantial, especially when one considers the lower amount of coal/natural gas-generated energy required to light these bulbs. "Fluoros" have another advantage: they last longer, in some cases 5 times longer, than incandescent bulbs.