MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman believes OptionXpress Holdings (NASDAQ: OXPS) has lost market share, and remains vulnerable on many fronts. They expect the competitive landscape will continue to intensify, pressuring margins and growth rates. The firm initiated shares with a Sell rating.
• Morgan Keegan started Supertex (NASDAQ: SUPX) with a Market Perform rating, citing lack of near-term catalysts.
• Syngenta (NYSE: SYT) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Bear, as they are positive on the company's defensive growth profile and valuation.

• HSBC initiated FedEx (NYSE: FDX) with a Neutral rating and $102 target and United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) with an Overweight rating and $86 target.
• Credit Suisse started Liberty Media (NASDAQ: LCAPA) with an Outperform rating and $140 target.

Analyst initiations: OXPS, SUPX and SYT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup upgraded both Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) and Valero (NYSE: VLO) to Buy from Hold, as they believe both companies will benefit from the collapse of ethanol prices since refiners are mainly supplied under term contracts struck above current levels.
  
• Merrill upgraded shares of UBS (NYSE: UBS) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the company's lack of exposure to fixed income.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded shares of Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) to Outperform from Neutral citing improved performance prospects.
  
• Supertex (NASDAQ: SUPX) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Oppenheimer. The firm expects a rebound in all business segments, Medical is entering a seasonally strong September quarter, and notes Motorola (NYSE: MOT) shipments are growing.

• CIBC upgraded Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer.
  
• Suntrust upgraded American Reprographics (NYSE: ARP) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Dover Downs (NYSE: DDE) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: SUN, VLO, UBS, LEH and SUPX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.