Analyst upgrades:

• Oppenheimer upgraded Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) to Outperform from Perform following the better-than-expected Q3 results to reflect an improving outlook for all the company's segments. The firm raised its target on shares to $36.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded C.R. Bard (NYSE: BCR) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's underlying growth trends will improve. The firm raised its target on shares to $88 from $78.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) to Outperform from Market Perform. The firm upgraded the stock after Cognizant reported better-than-expected Q3 results.
• Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) was upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC Capital.
• Digital River (NASDAQ: DRIV) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Collins Stewart and to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Steris (NYSE: STE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Stephens.

This week was saved today as the White House finally approved a $17.4 billion auto bailout package using TARP money. Stocks were stable after two days of decline, but all-in-all the week wasn't bad. It's the third week now that stocks, while perhaps having big swings daily, end up not so bad.

Once again, this stagnant time could be exactly the time investors may want to look for long-term deals. They may have to hold on to them for a while as the markets continue their up and down swings. But eventually, if it's a few months or a year from now, stocks will start to recover and cheap deals bought today may be big gainers.

But where are the deals? BloggingStocks contributors added some ideas this week:

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is one of Jamie Dlugosch's favorite blue-chip names. Analysts expect the company to make $2.12 per share in the current fiscal year ending in September. If the company earns $3 per share down the road with a 15 multiple, Disney shares could double. In the meantime, it pays 1.5% dividend yield.

Qwest Communications International (NYSE: Q) has many shortcomings to be sure, but "the company also has very valuable assets and strong cash flow" and the stock "would command a good premium in a takeover." according to George Putnam.

"Steris Corp. (NYSE: STE), the world's leading maker of sterilization and decontamination equipment, is a fast-growing company in a recession-proof industry," notes growth stock expert Alexander Green.

The contributing editor to industry-leading The Oxford Club explains, "Every year, 6.5 billion medical devices are sterilized in Steris equipment. Even gun-shy investors can afford to step up and buy a few shares of this one."

"Researchers and professionals in the pharmaceutical, medical device manufacturing and health care industries count on Steris to keep their environments germ-free.

"In North America, Steris leads in products like lights, booms and tables. It also offers consumable products, such as hand sanitizers, washing lotions and skincare products.

"This company has a long history, datingo its beginnings as The American Sterilizer Company in 1894. It was already a world leader in sterilization products in the 19th century. Today, the company employs more than 5,300 people in more than 60 countries. Sales hit $1.32 billion over the past 12 months.

"And under the leadership of new CEO Walt Rosebrough, Steris is re-energizing its sales, marketing and R&D. It's also cutting costs to enhance efficiencies and improve profits.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Alcoa, Publicis Groupe and Fresenius were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• JP Morgan downgraded shares of Alcoa (NYSE: AA) to Neutral from Overweight as they do not believe the company is a takeover target. The firm thinks investors could be disappointed with the new CEO's strategic direction as well as near-term earnings.
  
• Societe Generale cut Publicis (OTC: PUBGY) to Sell from Buy on valuation following the recent rally and macroeconomic concerns.
  
• UBS downgraded Fresenius (NYSE: FMS) to Neutral from Buy citing valuation, but added shares to its Short-Term Buy list citing potential upward EPS revisions when the company reports on July 3.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY) and Microchip (NASDAQ: MCHP) were lowered to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan.
  
• Soleil downgraded Steris (NYSE: STE) to Sell from Hold.
  
• Goldman added National Grid (NYSE: NGG) and Marshall & Ilsley (NYSE: MI) to its Conviction Sell List and removed Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) from the Conviction Buy List.

U.S. stock futures are indicating a lower open today after U.S. equities had a solid performance last week. This morning, however, investors will examine two deals, one in the steel industry and one in the PC manufacturing business as well as await some housing data to come out after the open. Another sign that the credit concerns will not leave Wall Street soon is the latest news that Home Depot agreed to cut the sales price of its wholesale supply unit.

Last week, Wall Street had solid gains with U.S. stocks on Friday closing sharply higher. The Dow industrials gained nearly 150 points or 1.08%, with the broader indices gaining even more. An unexpected rise in new-home sales helped push markets up as some hope the worst may be behind us.

This morning, more housing data is due. The National Association of Realtors will release July existing home sales at 10 a.m. EDT. Economists are expecting sales to decline somewhat in July. This report may be crucial to how the trading session unfolds later in the day especially in the background of a new economic survey released today saying that "the risk of massive defaults on subprime mortgages and heavy debts now poses a bigger threat to U.S. economic prosperity than terrorism."

This morning's data is kicking off a busy week of economic indicators for investors to sink their teeth in. But not only investors will examine the data, the Federal Reserve will too as it is watching the economy as well as the financial markets. Should the economy show further signs of weakness, the Fed may have to cut rates. Incidentally, this may sometimes be confusing as bad reports could push the markets higher due to increased expectation of a Fed rate cut.

Overseas, Asian markets closed higher, having a better day that they have in the past two weeks. In Europe, shares are advancing for a seventh day. Evidently, concerns over the U.S subprime meltdown eased.

In corporate news, two deals made the headlines:

Acer Inc. plans to acquire U.S. computer maker Gateway Inc. (NYSE: GTW) for $710 million, offering $1.90 per GTW share, a 57% premium over Friday's close. GTW shares are up 48% in premarket action.

United States Steel Corp. (NYSE: X) has agreed to acquire Canada's Stelco Inc. (TSX: STE) for C$1.1 billion, or C$38.50 ($36.56) a share, a 43% premium over Friday's close of C$26.93.

Among other news, the Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) has lowered the price of its wholesale distribution business and tentatively agreed to sell it to a group of private equity firms for $1.8 billion less than originally planned. HD shares are up 1.93% in premarket trading (7:29 a.m.).