"With sluggish economic growth expectations, companies need to make acquisitions to boost profitability; the recent sell-off has made takeover targets more affordable and represents an ideal time to pounce," says Louis Basenese.

In a report from White Cap Research Group, he explains, "All told, over $9 billion in deals have been announced in the US in the aftermath of the recent sell off. And for every deal that's been announced, there's at least three more offers being contemplated.

"In short, the recent sell off sent many due diligence teams into hyperdrive. Any subsequent selling should prompt the big wigs to pull the trigger on more deals before the opportunities disappear.

"And that's decidedly good news for these four of our White Cap recommendations: Acme Packet (APKT), Medidata Solutions (MDSO), CAMAC Energy (CAK), and Chemed Corp. (CHE).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Barnes Group Inc (B), MFA Mortgage Investments (MFA), Alberto-Culver Co (ACV), ZymoGenetics, Inc (ZGEN) and Genelabs Technologies (GNLB) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• CIBC expects Barnes Group (NYSE: B) to benefit from the sustained upswing in the aerospace cycle and robust global execution, starting shares of with a Sector Outperformer rating.

• JMP Securities is positive on MFA Mortgage Investments' (NYSE: MFA) organic yield improvement potential of its short duration portfolio and the company's modest leverage, starting shares with a Market Outperform rating.

• William Blair started shares of Alberto-Culver Co (NYSE: ACV) with an Outperform rating, believing the company is one of the better long-term growth opportunities among mid-cap stocks in consumer products.

• ZymoGenetics Inc (NASDAQ: ZGEN) was started with a Neutral rating at Oppenheimer, since the firm doesn't expect any important new clinical data until Q308.

• Genelabs Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: GNLB) was started with a Buy at Oppenheimer, saying the company has a portfolio of early-stage programs in the treatment of Hep-C that have the potential to be best-in-class...

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Cowen started Maxygen, Inc (NASDAQ: MAXY) with an Outperform.

• Merrill initiated Atheros Communications, Inc (NASDAQ: ATHR) with a Buy rating.

• Jefferies initiated shares of Alcon, Inc (NYSE: ACL) and Chemed Corp (NYSE: CHE) with Buy ratings.

• Rodman initiated Amgen, Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN) with a Market Perform rating.

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

I don't often run across a story that both demonstrates brilliant marketing and offers me promise of incredible personal benefit. Roto-rooter's newest promotion, the Pimped Out John Sweepstakes, is all of that and more.

Roto-Rooter, the drain-cleaning company owned by Chemed Corp. (NYSE:CHE), is offering the ultimate web worker home office, a toilet/throne equipped with

• State-of-the-art laptop
• Stocked 4.3 cubic foot refrigerator WITH built-in beer tap
• DVD with Star Wars video
• Cooling/ vapor-dispersing fan
• 20" Phillips flat-screen TV
• Microsoft Xbox 360
• iPod in a toilet-paper dispensing docking station
• Series 2 Tivo
• Pedal exerciser
• Magazine rack with subscriptions to SI, ESPN and GQ magazines
• Megaphone to call in toilet paper reinforcements

You can enter on-line, although I strongly encourage you to forget it so that my odds of winning are better. Deadline for entry is April 2, 2007, with the winner announced on National Plumber's Day, April 25th.

Oh, man! The stories we Bloggingstocks bloggers could file for you if we could con AOL into providing us with this setup. Are you listening, boss?