MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• 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...

• 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 initiations 6-14-07: ACV, AMGN, ATHR and B originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.