U.S. stock futures are higher Tuesday morning as crude oil prices declined marginally from 29-month highs. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 30 points to 12,108.00 and futures on the S&P 500 stock index gained 4.60 points to 1,313.70. Nasdaq 100 futures rose 4.25 points to 2,328.75.

European markets were mixed today. While STOXX Europe 600 Index has gained 0.20%, London's FTSE 100 Index moved down 0.15%.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Vodafone, AstraZeneca and Forest Oil were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Bear Stearns upgraded shares of Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) to Outperform from Peer Perform on valuation, as they believe the stock trades at a discount to peers.
  
• AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup to reflect the potential for higher sales of the company's Crestor cholesterol pill.
  
• Jefferies upgraded shares of Forest Oil (NYSE: FST) to Buy from Hold and raised their target to $63 from $50 following the company's "bullish" analyst conference.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Pharmasset (NASDAQ: VRUS) was raised to Buy from Neutral at UBS.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded China Mobile (NYSE: CHL) to Buy from Hold.
  
• Morgan Keegan upgraded RadNet (NASDAQ: RDNT) to Outperform from Market Perform.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Salesforce.com, Inc (CRM), Black & Decker Corp (BDK), GenVec, Inc (GNVC) and RightNow Technologies (RNOW) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• With customers wanting an alternative to Microsoft (MSFT), Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) is making an attempt to be that alternative. It is rumored that management is in talks with Google (GOOG) about the two companies working together, a move that could include offering Google Apps via the AppExchange and integrating more closely those apps with Salesforce.com. Baird initiated shares of Salesforce.com with a Neutral rating and $49 target.

• Banc of America sees major headwinds from declining construction and slower consumer spending on housing and started shares of Black & Decker Corp (NYSE: BDK) with a Sell rating and $85 target.

• Merriman sees upside from strong mid- and late-stage clinical programs, key collaborations and potential for revenue generation, starting shares of GenVec (NASDAQ: GNVC) with a Buy rating.

• Baird finds Rightnow Technology (NASDAQ: RNOW) to be well-positioned within the customer service segment of the CRM market with above average L-T prospects and views the recent uncertainty as a buying opportunity. Baird started shares of RightNow with an Outperform rating and $19 target...

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Jefferies initiated RadNet Inc (NASDAQ: RDNT) with a Buy rating.

• Lehman started Mobile Mini, Inc (NASDAQ: MINI) with an Equal Weight rating.

• Northwest Airlines Corp (OTC: NWACQ) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Goldman.

• Pacific Growth started shares of Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc (AMEX: JAV) with a Buy rating.

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