Toyota (TM) hybrid stalled -- can Detroit capitalize? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan downgraded Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL) to Neutral from Overweight based on the lack of near-term catalysts.

• Gabelli downgraded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) to Hold from Buy on reduced 2008 expectations. The firm expects Electronic to lose market share given the lack of Q1 product launches.

• CRT downgraded ION Media Networks (AMEX: ION) to Sell from Buy and recommends taking profits at these levels as shares are approaching Citadel LP's offer of $1.46 per share.

• BB&T cut Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc (NASDAQ: MDRX) to Hold from Buy after its weak Q1 report.

• Jefferies downgraded Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Underperform from Hold with a $5.50 target to reflect weak volumes.
  

• Brooks Automation, Inc (NASDAQ: BRKS) was cut to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns.

• Prudential downgraded AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (NYSE: AU) to Neutral from Overweight.

• JP Morgan downgraded Jeffries Group, Inc (NYSE: JEF) to Market Perform to Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.

• Pacific Crest cut Cisco Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Sector Perform from Outperform on valuation.

Analyst downgrade 5-09-07: CSCO, ERTS, MDRX, MVL and THC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 May 2007 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" column, Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) has gone from a growth play to a value play, and may be a bargain after a recent pullback.
• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that although the Dolan family finally convinced its board to take its $10.6B offer to take Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) private, hurdles remain, as some investors aren't going along with it.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) plans to spend about $1B over the next 10 years to expand its chip assembly and test operations in the Philippines, reported the Wall Street Journal.

• The New York Post reported that Jones Apparel Group Inc (NYSE: JNY) said yesterday it would close or sell some of its mid-price lines by the end of the year in order to reduce its exposure to department stores.
• A New York Post exclusive reported that Ion Media Networks Inc (NYSE: ION) looks close to approving a takeover deal with General Electric Company's (NYSE: GE) NBC and Citadel, despite shareholder opposition and a rival bid from Echostar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH).
• Despite the fact that the board of Dow Jones and Company (NYSE: DJ) twice said it will not take News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) $5B offer from Rupert Murdoch, a number of analysts say that it'll either be Murdoch or another competitor who buys the owner of the Wall Street Journal, reported the Los Angeles Times.
• According to sources close to the decision, Peter Sutherland will stay with BP plc (NYSE: BP) as chairman into 2009 to "help stabilize" the company following Lord Browne's departure, reported the Telegraph.

Newspaper wrap-up 5-3-07: Texas Instruments to expand to the Phillippines originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 May 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) is boasting advances in lithium ion battery technology that is enabling automakers worldwide to successfully create and sustain the new breed of high-efficiency automobiles. Remember, these new hybrids and plug-ins are useless without adequate and dependable, long-life power sources to support them. Since January 2006, Johnson Controls has sought to make lithium ion batteries the chosen power pack for future energy efficient vehicles. I'm pleased to report that they have met with admirable success.

Earlier this month, Johnson Controls accepted a development contract with General Motors to develop and test lithium ion batteries for use in GM's Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid SUV. Concentrated development efforts begun in January 2006 by Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Systems (JCS) have come to the point where JCS was able to install and display a fully integrated lithium ion battery system in a prototype hybrid-electric SUV at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.

Alan Mumby, president and general manager of Johnson Controls hybrid battery business, states: "We are thrilled to be a key player in enabling tomorrow's green technologies". The JCS lithium ion battery laboratory, situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the only dedicated facility in the world focused exclusively on developing lithium ion technology for use in hybrid vehicles.

At least partial funding of the JCS lithium ion battery development project has been provided by the U.S. Department of Energy in furtherance of the Freedom CAR and Fuel Partnership project. The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) is also a driving force in this effort. USCAR is a development and research effort operating with the combined forces of Americas big three automakers. This all speaks well of our friends in American auto manufacturing. Breathe easy America, they're working on it.

Johnson Controls is advancing in the Global Warming fight originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.