The markets were able to shake everything off today after techs and financials delivered more hope than economics could deliver in fear. Housing construction gave levels not seen in more than 15-years and the Fed's Beige Book showed that the economy deteriorated further with weak spending, uncertainty, housing and credit woes. Even $115/barrel oil today didn't spook those hoping for a recovery. Even multi-year inflation in China and Europe didn't spook investors. Below are today's unofficial closing levels for US index averages:

• DJIA 12,619.27 (+256.80; +2.08%)
• S&P500 1,364.69 (+30.26; +2.27%)
• NASDAQ 2,350.11 (+64.07; +2.80%)
• 10YR-TBOND 3.696% (+0.126%)
• 52-WEEK LOWS
• TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS.

CV Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVTX) was a major gainer today after the company secured up to $185 million in financing from TPG-Axon. Shares were up over 17% to $8.76.

Pozen (NASDAQ:POZN) is up 35% on approval of one of its drugs by the FDA.

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is up over 7% on a strong forecast for the rest of 2008.

Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) is up almost 15% on strong Q1 numbers.

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) is up over 3% on anticipation of a strong earnings report.

Stocks may trade differently in the pre-market than they do in the regular session.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Pozen (NYSE: POZN) closed at $10. POZN's Treximet (treatment for migraines) PDUFA is April 15, 2008. POZN April 10 straddle is priced at $3.35, May is at $4.60 according to Track Data, suggesting large price movement.

Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: CheckFree (CKFR), Talbots (TLB), SPSS Inc (SPSS), Network Appliance (NTAP) and Pozen Inc (POZN) were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Following FiServ's (NASDAQ: FISV) acquisition of CheckFree, Raymond James cut CKFR shares to Market Perform from Strong Buy and Baird downgraded shares to Neutral from Outperform.

• Talbots (NYSE: TLB) was cut to Sell from Hold at Citigroup based on valuation, continued earnings disappointments, and a lack of earnings visibility.

• Cowen downgraded shares of SPSS Inc (NASDAQ: SPSS) to Underperform from Neutral citing decelerating growth and poor earnings quality.

• Bear Stearns cut Network Appliance (NASDAQ: NTAP) to Underperform from Peer Perform on the negative Q1 pre-announcement. Pacific Crest downgraded shares to Sector Perform from Outperform.

• After Pozen (NASDAQ: POZN) received a second approvable letter for Trexima, shares were downgraded by three firms:
  
• To Neutral from Strong Buy at First Albany
  
• To Hold from Buy at Jefferies and Lazard...

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Oppenheimer downgraded Applebee's (NASDAQ: APPB) to Neutral from Buy.

• Gabelli downgraded Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM) to Hold from Buy.

• Lehman downgraded Luxottica (NYSE: LUX) and Clorox (NYSE: CLX) to Equal Weight from Overweight.

• Thomas Weisel downgraded Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT) to Market Weight from Overweight.

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

Monday July 30

• Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 8:30am. Analysts will look at Verizon's marketing strategy [particularly for FiOS], infrastructure improvements, and operating expenses. Above-average debt remains a blemish, but Wall Street will overlook that if Verizon registers impressive subscription and market share statistics, and demonstrates that its fiber optic-based FiOS Internet/TV network roll-out timetable for major markets remains on schedule.
• Monster Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: MNST) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 10am. Monster is expected to register adequate, albeit decelerating revenue growth in Q2 compared to Q1, hence the grade for the company's performance may hinge on analysts' projection regarding the likely revenue scenario moving forward.

Tuesday July 31

• Federal District Court Hearing to decided whether to approve the FTC's application for injunction blocking the proposed merger between Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ: WFMI) and Wild Oats Markets Inc (NASDAQ: OATS).
• FDA 8am Gastrointestinal Drugs and Drug Safety and Risk Management Joint Advisory Committee Hearing on Biogen Inc's (NASDAQ: BIIB) Tysabri for Crohn's Disease.
• RegenRX Pharmaceuticals (AMEX: RGN) to update on its clinical trials program at 4:30pm.

Wednesday August 1

• PDUFA date for GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) / POZEN Inc's (NASDAQ: POZN) Trexima for migraine headaches.
• Teva Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TEVA) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• Sales Conference Calls: Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) at 1pm; General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) at 2pm
• Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 5pm. After recent sluggish stock performance, some analysts see Starbucks snapping back in the quarters ahead: Starbucks is expected to add a breakfast sandwich at 4,000 stores/coffee houses, which could increase per-store revenue by $70K annually.

Thursday August 2

• Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE: EK) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 11am. Note that the volatility in Kodak is elevated going into its earnings report.

Friday August 3

• Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Today's noteworthy initiations included MasterCard Inc (MA), Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC), ZymoGenetics, Inc (ZGEN) and California Pizza Kitchen, Inc (CPKI):

• AG Edwards started MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA) with a Hold rating, citing near-term concerns about the consumer and valuation.

• Credit Suisse initiated Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) with a Neutral rating and $41 target.

• Citigroup initiated ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: ZGEN) Inc with a Sell rating and $12 target. The firm sees further downside given their belief the Street will lower its Thrombin expectations due to sales disappointment in early 2008.

• Morgan Keegan initiated shares of California Pizza Kitchen (NASDAQ: CPKI) with an Outperform rating, finding shares compelling given the company's substantial unit growth opportunity.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Buckingham initiated shares of Gentex Corp (NASDAQ: GNTX) with an Underperform with a $14 target, and expects margin pressure to continue.

• Citigroup started POZEN Inc (NASDAQ: POZN) with a Buy rating and $28 target.

• Needham initiated SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC) with a Buy rating and $12 target.

• BB&T started Tarragon Corp (NASDAQ: TARR) with a Buy rating and $13 target, as the firm believes the proposed spin-off of its home-building business would unlock shareholder value.

• Wachovia initiated shares of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: CHRW) with an Outperform rating.

• Shares of Brookfield Properties Corp (NYSE: BPO) were started with a Hold rating at Stifel.

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

Given the last day of the trading for 2006, initiations were light.

• Baird initiated Noven Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NOVN) with an Outperform and $30 target, based on the Daytrana, which Baird believes should be a driver for shares with continued success, milestones and improved profitability.

• Also initiated by Baird, POZEN Inc (NASDAQ: POZN) with an Outperform rating and $26 target; they expect Pozen's Trexima to be approved in mid-2007 and for their marketing partner, GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR (NYSE: GSK), to convert 60% of Imitrix market share to Trexima.

• Thomas Weisel initiated Hansen Medical (NASDAQ: HNSN) with an Overweight rating and $14.50 target; the firm is positive on the Sensai platform, a robotic catheter control system, which allows unprecedented control and enables new procedures to become minimally invasive.

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