MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan cut FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) to Underweight from Neutral citing expected competition from Micronics Japan, which has successfully ramped up production at its new advanced probe card factory.

• CIBC's checks suggest that challenges still remain in Graco's (NYSE: GGG) contractor segment and is likely to impact results, downgrading shares to Sector Performer from Sector Outperformer.

• Deutsche Bank downgraded shares of China Telecom (NYSE: CHA) to Hold from Buy to reflect slower user growth as the company added 77% fewer fixed-line customers in the first five months of 2007.

• Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) was cut to Outperform from its Top Pick rating at RBC Capital following the company's JV announcement with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBSPY).

• Jefferies downgraded shares of Unica (NASDAQ: UNCA) to Hold from Buy after the company reported lower than expected Q3 licenses to reflect too much variance in execution...

• Linear Technology (NASDAQ: LLTC) was downgraded to Accumulate from Buy at ThinkEquity.

• Rackable Systems (NASDAQ: RACK) was downgraded to Sector Outperform at RBC Capital.

• Stanford cut Dobson (NASDAQ: DCEL) to Hold from Buy.

• Lehman assumed coverage of Extreme Networks (NASDAQ: EXTR) with an Equal Weight rating, downgrading shares from Overweight.

• Lazard downgraded First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) to Hold from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 7-10-07: DCEL, FORM, GGG and RACK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX)

This week's rumor round-up: Will Amazon overpay for Netflix? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• William Blair started THQ Inc (NASDAQ: THQI) with an Outperform rating, as they are positive on shares based on earnings upside potential from the new video game cycle.

• RBC initiated shares of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) with an Outperform rating and $52 target, as the firm expects growth to be driven by portfolio repositioning efforts and renovations.

• OfficeMax Inc (NYSE: OMX) was initiated at Bear Stearns with a Peer Perform rating citing a balanced risk/reward.

• Lehman Brothers initiated both AK Steel Holding Corp (NYSE: AKS) and Steel Dynamics Inc (NASDAQ: STLD) with Equal Weight ratings.

• Wachovia started Beazer Homes USA Inc (NYSE: BZH) with a Market Perform rating, saying the company has few discernible competitive advantages over other public homebuilders and lacks catalysts.

• Cowen initiated Rackable Systems Inc (NASDAQ: RACK) with a Neutral rating.

• Bear Stearns re-initiated Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF) with a Peer Perform rating.

• Leerink Swann started Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN) with an Outperform rating, with a range of $21-$23, believing the company's Invisalign technology is well positioned for renewed growth.

• Bernstein initiated Murphy Oil Corp (NYSE: MUR) with an Outperform rating.

• Cascade Financial Corp (NASDAQ: CASB) was initiated with a Hold rating and $19 target at Sandler.

Analyst initiations 2-27-07: Rest your head at LaSalle Hotel Properties originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.