MOST NOTEWORTHY: MRU Holdings (UNCL), CVS/Caremark (CVS), Medco Health (MHS) and Blackboard (BBBB) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Kaufman Bros. expects MRU Holdings (NADAQ: UNCL) to post a profit in Q4 for the first time due to its first student loan securitization and started shares with a Buy rating and $9 target.

• Thomas Weisel believes shares of CVS/Caremark (NYSE: CVS) represent a compelling risk/reward at these levels, initiating shares with an Overweight rating and $51 target, given the positive trends in the market and the likelihood of successful merger integration.

• Thomas Weisel believes Medco Health (NYSE: MHS) is well positioned to capitalize on continued generic conversions, starting shares with an Overweight rating and $100 target.

• Banc of America would be buyers of Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) current levels, initiating shares with a Buy rating and $50 target, given the company's defensible business model and market leadership position.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• UBS started Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) with a Neutral rating.

• Leerink Swann initiated Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD) with a Market Perform rating and $19-$20 valuation range.

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

No doubt by now you have heard the good news regarding Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and the shield it has in place for Celebrex. You can get some more insight on that by reading Douglas McIntyre's post.

Now the time is ripe for Pfizer to do something powerful. If it can accomplish one or two block buster product releases before mid-year, it'll be off to the races once again. In pursuit of that goal, Pfizer has a large stable of potential ground shakers in development. Here's an encapsulated view of what Pfizer has going right now in R&D:

I counted 49 formulations that Pfizer has in PHASE I of development. Of those compounds, ten are intended cancer treatments, eight are for inflammation and / or pain, including arthritis, 11 are directed towards cardiology, metabolic and endocrine conditions. Pfizer also has six compounds in PHASE I that are indicated for infectious diseases. Phase one drug testing focuses on compound safety rather than drug effectiveness.

Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX down .35 to 11.10.

AtheroGenics Inc. (NASDAQ:AGIX) derivatives high risk, option volume up traders prepare for data. AtheroGenics focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. AtheroGenics is expected to announce results for top line data from the ARISE Phase 3 trial on AGI-1067 (coronary heart disease treatment.) AGIX said on 1/8/07 the data "will likely be available no sooner than late first quarter." AtheroGenics call option volume of 27,881 contracts compares to put volume of 14,119 contracts. AtheroGenics April 12.5 straddle is at $11 dollars, according to Track Data, suggesting large risks.

Option volume leaders today were: Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT), Apple, Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL), CountryWide Financial Corp. (NYSE:CFC), Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) and U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE:X).