Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) falls on Q2 earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Citigroup downgraded shares of Disney (NYSE: DIS) to Sell from Hold after their databases indicated a slowdown in Parks is likely. They believe the slowdown in Parks will be coupled with a broader ad slowdown and lowered their target to $26 from $36.
  
• Wachovia lowered its rating on McClatchy News (NYSE: MNI) to Market Perform from Outperform and has concerns that the California and Florida markets could weaken further.
  
• McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear. The firm cited slowing US sales, international business sensitivity to the economy, and valuation.

• NYMEX (NYSE: NMX) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
  
• Oppenheimer downgraded Albermarle (NYSE: ALB) to Perform from Outperform.
  
• Goldman downgraded Grupo Aeroportuario (NYSE: ASR) to Sell from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: DIS, MNI and MCD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading CME Group in talks to buy Nymex for about $11 billion

CME Group in talks to buy Nymex for about $11 billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JMP Securities upgraded Celera Group, Applera Corp. (NYSE: CRA) to Outperform from Market Perform, as they believe an announcement on the company's evaluation of its tracking stock could come as early as 1Q08, a split of Celera/Applied Biosystems could occur by FY08, and a new finding in a peer-review journal that predicts risk of coronary heart disease and statin benefit within the next six weeks.
  
• Baird raised Plantronics (NYSE: PLT) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation, strength in the Center and Office segment, and negative sentiment on Mobile revenues unwarranted.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of NYMEX (NYSE: NMX) to Buy from Hold and raised their target to $160 from $145 to reflect stabilized floor volumes, increased trading of commodities and acquisition potential consensus estimates that are too low. Deutsche named NMX their top exchange idea for 2008.

• Citigroup upgraded Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) to Buy from Hold.
  
• Goldman upgraded Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB) to Buy from Neutral.
  
• Keefe Bruyette added Assured Guaranty (NYSE: AGO) to its Best Ideas List.

Analyst upgrades: Celera Genomics, Plantronics, Nymex originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Citigroup upgraded shares of NYMEX (NYSE: NMX) to Buy from Hold following the recent share weakness, as they believe record high oil will bring a period of extended energy volatility. Citigroup also believes NMX is the most likely takeover candidate among U.S. exchanges.
• JP Morgan raised its rating on Imperial Chemical (OTC: ICIYY) to Neutral from Overweight, as they believe the deal with Akzo Nobel (OTC: AKZOY) will go through and is positive for shareholders.
  
• JP Morgan also raised Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) to Overweight from Neutral to reflect the strong outlook for the QCT chip business as well as Qualcomm's product pipeline.
  
• Merrill Lynch upgraded shares of Infineon (NYSE: IFX) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, as they believe the current share price factors in no value for the company's 77.5% stake in Qimonda (NYSE: QI).

• Citigroup upgraded the bank sector to Overweight from Market Weight.
  
• UBS upgraded Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Credit Suisse upgraded VASCO Data Security (NASDAQ: VDSI) to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Wachovia.

Analyst upgrades: NMX, ICI, QCOM and IFX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading NYMEX Holdings (NMX): Back to the futures

NYMEX Holdings (NMX): Back to the futures originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Keefe Bruyette initiated coverage on Exchange Sector: The firm started shares of CME Group Inc (NYSE: CME), NYMEX Holdings Inc (NYSE: NMX) and NYSE Euronext Inc (NYSE: NYX) with Outperform ratings and a $669 target, $147 target and $90 target, respectively. The firm also started shares of Investment Technology Group (NYSE: ITG), Nasdaq Stock Market Inc (NASDAQ: NDAQ) and IntercontinentalExchange Inc (NYSE: ICE) with Underperform ratings and a $47 target, $36 target and $158 target, respectively, and shares of Knight Capital Group (NASDAQ: NITE) with an Underperform rating and $13 target.
  
• Progenics Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PGNX) was added to Friedman Billings' Top Picks list and its Outperform rating was maintained. The firm has a high degree of confidence in the success of the MNTX Ph III studies in post-operative ilieus, as well as the FDA approval of the subcutaneous injection in terminally ill patients with opiod-induced constipation around the 1/31/07 PDUFA date.
• RBC believes margin expansion will drive long-term appreciation in Tyco Electronics Ltd (NYSE: TEL) and started shares with an Outperform rating and $41 target.
• PharMerica Corporation (NYSE: PMC) was initiated with an Underperform rating at Bear Stearns. The firm believes PMC will be pressured by customer losses and generic reimbursement cuts and sees shares trading in $12-$13 range.

• Ryanair Holdings (NASDAQ: RYAAY) was initiated with a Market Outperform rating at Avondale.u
• Banc of America initiated shares of Town Sports International (NASDAQ: CLUB) with a Sell rating and $15 target.
  
• Goldman started shares of Genesis Lease Ltd (NYSE: GLS) and Aircastle Ltd (NYSE: AYR) with Neutral ratings.

Analyst initiations 9-7-07: Exchange sector, PGNX, TEL and PMC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Before the bell: M&A talks give Wall Street a lift originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Piggyback Investing: Navellier likes AAPL, CSCO, ICE and SLB

Piggyback Investing: Navellier likes AAPL, CSCO, ICE and SLB originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• With his company's stock near a 52-week low, Robert Willett, CEO of Best Buy Incorporated's (NYSE: BBY) international operations, bought nearly $500K in stock, reported Barron's Online's "Inside Scoop" section.
• In a rare instance of a foreign company being allowed into the Chinese onshore oil and gas industry, Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) will develop a natural gas filed owned by PetroChina Company Limited (NYSE: PTR), reported the Wall Street Journal.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Sun Microsystems Inc (NASDAQ: SUNW) is today expected to introduce a new microprocessor called UltraSparc T2, will be able to process up to 64 threads at one time -- most chips can handle up to four threads at a time.
• According to the Financial Times, citing a source familiar with his pay package, Robert Nardelli will college a salary of $1 a year in his new role as CEO of Chrysler, which is 20% owned by DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX).

• The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYSE: NMX) is quietly selling its lower Manhattan headquarters, asking for between $600M and $700M, ahead of a deal to sell itself, reported the New York Post.

Newspaper wrap-up: Sun Micro introducing new, faster chip originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Starting with the most anticipated one, the May Consumer Price Index, which will be released at 8:30 a.m. and could change the direction stocks will be moving according to its reading. Economists are expecting the CPI to gain 0.6% after a 0.4% rise in April. Core CPI, which excludes the volatile energy and food prices and which is the Fed's preferred measure, is forecast to rise the same as in April, 0.2%.
• Also at 8:30 a.m., the June NY Empire State Index, or the regional manufacturing index, will be released.
• At 9:00 a.m., the current account deficit, an indicator that shows trade and investment flows between countries, will be released.
• At 9:15 a.m., May Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization will be released. Production is expected to rise 0.2% after a 0.7% gain in April, while capacity should remain unchanged at 81.6%.
• Finally at 10:00 a.m., the preliminary June Reuters/University of Michigan reading on June consumer sentiment is also due. Economists forecast the index fell to 88.0 from 88.3 due to gas prices.

Before the bell 6-15-07: Stock futures rise ahead of CPI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Cantor sees significant opportunities for growth at Shutterfly Inc (NASDAQ: SFLY), driven by new business lines, international expansion and new products, among other things, and started SFLY Shares with a Buy rating.

• Stifel initiated Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL) with a Buy rating and believes the impending film slate provides a long-term growth opportunity and serves as a catalyst.

• Thomas Weisel started National CineMedia Inc (NASDAQ: NCMI) with an Overweight rating, as the firm still believes the company is among the fastest-growing, ad-supported media companies in the U.S. given its ownership in NCM LLC, which has established a leadership position in the cinema advertising market.

• FTN Midwest started Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) with a Neutral rating.

• Jefferies started Conexant Systems, Inc (NASDAQ: CNXT) with a Hold rating.

• Wachovia initiated NYMEX Holdings, Inc (NYSE: NMX) with an Outperform rating.

• Goldman Sachs started LSI Corp (NYSE: LSI) with a Neutral rating.

• Citigroup started Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) with a Buy rating.

• Stein Mart, Inc (NASDAQ: SMRT) was initiated Morgan Joseph with a Buy rating.

• Citigroup started Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) with a Hold rating based on valuation.

Analyst initiations 4-03-07: Wal-Mart, Kroger and Marvel Entertainment initated today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Calyon initiated three consumer financial services companies:
  
• American Express Co (NYSE: AXP) was initiated with a Buy rating and $67 target, based on valuation.
  
• Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE: COF) was initiated with an Add rating, as the firm believes shares should be valued in-line with comparable banks, but feels the best investors should hope for is $90/share by year-end given the current market conditions.
  
• MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA) was started with an Add rating and $123 target, as the firm believes shares should perform well in an environment in which concerns over credit risk remain paramount.

• CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Wachovia, which expects accelerated growth in 2008.

• CIBC started Dress Barn Inc (NASDAQ: DBRN) with a Sector Performer rating, citing valuation.

• Lazard initiated Terremark Worldwide, Inc (AMEX: TWW) with a Buy rating and $10 target.

• BB&T assumed coverage of Aaron Rents, Inc (NYSE: RNT) with a Buy rating and $30 target.

• Merrill Lynch reinstated Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (NYSE: FCX) with a Neutral rating.

• Jefferies started NYMEX Holdings, Inc (NYSE: NMX) with a Hold rating and $140 target on valuation.

Analyst initiations 4-02:07: MasterCard, CBS Corp & American Express initiated today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Shares of Altera Corp (NASDAQ: ALTR) were initiated with a Buy rating and $26 at Nollenberger; the firm believes that due to the company's faster growth rate, increasing market share and higher gross margins, shares should trade at a premium to Xilinx Inc (NASDAQ: XLNX).

• Soleil Securities initiated shares of Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) with a Hold rating, believing it may take at least through the spring season to see a meaningful improvement in operating results.

• Spirit Aerosystems 'A' (NYSE: SPR) was initiated by several firms: Jefferies with a Buy and $36 target, Credit Suisse with a Neutral and $35 target, Citigroup with a Sell rating and $24 target, Morgan Stanley with an Overweight and $38 target, Cowen with a Neutral rating and UBS with a Neutral and $38 target.

• NYMEX Holdings (NYSE: NMX) was initiated with an Underweight rating at JP Morgan, citing the rich valuation for its rating.

• Shares of Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN) were initiated with an Overweight rating and a $16 target at Morgan Stanley.

Analyst initiations 1-3-07: Altera started with a Buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Cowen and Piper Jaffrey initiated First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) with Outperform ratings, First Albany and ThinkEquity started the company with Buy ratings and Morgan Stanley started the company with an Equal Weight rating.

• The Bank of America and Citigroup initiated the NYMEX Holdings (NYSE: NMX); BofA with a Neutral and Citigroup with a Hold rating, based on valuation.

• Prudential initiated coverage on Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) with a Neutral rating and a $53 target; the firm has concerns that growth in Avonex and Rituxan have peaked and that competition from other MS drugs will continue to erode Avonex market share.

Analyst initiations 12-27-06: Everyone likes First Solar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Stanley (SXE) and The NYMEX (NMX) topped today's extensive list of initiations.

• Stanley Inc. (NYSE:SXE) was initiated by a host of firms today: Wachovia started the IT services company with a Market Perform rating, citing valuation. Cowen started Stanley with an Outperform rating, citing expectations for 20% EPS growth and the potential for margin upside for their rationale. JP Morgan, Stifel and Citigroup initiated Stanely with Buy ratings, citing solid market positioning in the civilian and federal IT markets.
• The NYMEX (NYSE:NMX) was initiated at Prudential with an Underweight rating and $112 target, citing a rich valuation and the unlikely chance of a takeout.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Caris started Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) with an Average rating, citing shares that are fully valued and 2007 growth expectations that could prove to be aggressive.
• Wachovia initiated Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMED) with a Market Perform rating, citing the risks from potential changes to Medicare reimbursement rules for its rating.
• Goldman initiated Biovail Corp. (NYSE:BVF) with a Buy rating and $22 target, citing an attractive valuation.

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

Analyst initiations 11-27-06: NYMEX initiated with Underweight originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We already saw Cramer is endorsing the KBR (KBR) IPO and even that he said Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) is a cheaper and safer way to go. The huge IPO of the week that Cramer reviewed last night, was the NYMEX (NMX), the owner of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Cramer said that the price was boosted from $48-$52 to $54-$57, the shares were bumped from 6 million to 6.5 million shares, and that it is heavily oversubscribed. And, he thinks the company deserves every bit of it. The conventional wisdom is that no one thinks it will go down. He said the sentiment is right.

Cramer thinks you should buy a piece of it because this may be the most quiet bull market in various sorts of exchanges. He even went over the NYSE Group (NYSE:NYX) as still up $5.00 from last week and it can more than double. Cramer said he doesn't know of any reason why this NYMEX is different. He said the numbers speak for themselves because income rose 150% on a 71% revenue gain, but if it prices in the mid-range it will only have a 30-times earnings multiple. That's too low for Cramer.

Cramer thinks the opening will be higher and he thinks you have to do limit orders. If it opens up $25.00 north of that he would still be a buyer, but if it opens up $15.00 he would buy twice as much. If it is up only $5.00 then it is a true gift. He said never do market orders and don't buy in all at once.

Because NMX boosted the range today it also impacted InterContinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE) with it closing up 9% to $96.55.

Cramer: Buy the you-know-what out of the NYMEX IPO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.