Analyst upgrades:

• Goldman upgraded shares of BP Plc (NYSE: BP) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point.
  
• VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse citing its acquisition platform and international growth. The company's target was increased to $100 from $88.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Buy from Hold and increased its target to $8.50 from $7 to reflect increased confidence in the company's ability to beat expectations over the next 12 months and reduce its net debt.
• US Steel (NYSE: X) was raised to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.
  
• United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) was upgraded at UBS to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades:

Analyst upgrades:

• RBC Capital upgraded Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) to Sector Perform from Underperform following the acquisition by Shionogi.
  
• Merrill believes Alcoa (NYSE: AA) may pursue an acquisition of Alumina Ltd (NYSE: AWC) following recent share weakness. Shares of Alumina were upgraded to Buy from Underperform.
  
• Stanford upgraded shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Hold after channel checks indicated U.S. search market trends have stabilized as they believe GOOG's market share gains are broadening, Q3 expectations are modest and the valuation is near lows. The firm has a $550 target on the stock.
• Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  

Analyst downgrades:

• WestLB downgraded shares of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to Reduce from Hold as they believe the company's Q3 earnings could miss expectations.
  
• Lehman downgraded Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL) to Equal Weight from Overweight based PC exposure and market share loss in notebook power. The company's target was lowered to $24 from $29.
• Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) was lowered to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America.
• JP Morgan lowered Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS) to Underperform from Sector Perform.

Analyst initiations:

• Citigroup initiated Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) with a Sell rating and $13 target. The firm believes 2008 consensus estimates and guidance are too high given the company's headwinds.
  
• GT Solar (NASDAQ: SOLR) was assumed with a Neutral rating and $16 target at Banc of America. The firm believes the risk/reward is balanced at current levels with no significant new polysilicon opportunity. Shares were also initiated at Thomas Weisel with an Overweight rating and $18 target and at UBS with a Buy rating and $19 target.
• Citigroup initiated Xerox (NYSE: XRX) with a Buy rating and $20 target and Electronics for Imaging (NASDAQ: EFII) with a Hold rating and $18 target.

Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) announced the FDA approved its new formulation of Sular (high blood pressure treatment).

SCRX closed at $19.84 Wednesday.

Friedman BIlings says: "Successful execution of the Sular switch will remain a concern for investors and depress the near-term share valuation."

SCRX January option implied volatility of 82 is above its 26-week average of 48 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

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

Monday, December 31

• PDUFA date for Pharmacyclics (NASDAQ: PCYC)' Xcytrin for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases.

Tuesday, January 1

• Markets closed for New Year's holiday.

Wednesday, January 2

• PDUFA date for SkyePharmaceuticals (OTC: SKYEY) and Sciele Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SCRX) Sular Formulation for Hypertension. The FDA extended the PDUFA Date from November 2, 2007.

Thursday, January 3

• Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to report monthly sales at 1pm
• General Motors (NYSE: GM) to report monthly sales at 2pm.
• AngioDynamics (NASDAQ: ANGO) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.

Friday, January 4

• Millennium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MLNM) to provide guidance at 8am.
• Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP) to provide guidance at 10am.
• Federal Reserve Govenor Kohn to provide keynote speech at the AEA Annual Meeting in New Orleans at 11:45am.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Antofagasta plc, Merrill Lynch, Valueclick, Telmex and Network Appliance were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• UBS upgraded shares of Antofagasta (OTC: ANFGY) to Neutral from Sell as they see a strong possibility of delays to copper supply due to an earthquake on Nov. 14 in northern Chile.
  
• Credit Suisse is positive on the appointment of John Thain as Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER)'s CEO and his ability to get the company back on track strategically. The firm upgraded shares of Merrill to Outperform from Neutral.
  
• Valueclick (NASDAQ: VCLK) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup on valuation, as they believe the recent sell-off provides a great entry point.
  
• Citigroup also raised its rating on Telmex (NYSE: TMX) to Buy from Hold after the company announced the spin-off of its international businesses.
  
• Bear Stearns upgraded Network Appliance (NASDAQ: NTAP) to Peer Perform from Underperform following its Q2 report and increased outlook.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• RBC Capital upgraded Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) to Sector Perform from Underperform.
  
• Lehman upgraded Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) to Overweight from Equal Weight.
  
• W.W. Grainger (NYSE: GWW) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
  
• Merrill Lynch upgraded Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY) to Buy from Neutral.

ANFGY;MER;VCLK;TMX;NTAP;SCRX;AMGN;GWW;WY

Sciele Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: SCRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, closed at $26.54. SCRX has a Sular line extension PDUFA on November 2. Roth Capital Partners has a Buy rating and $33 price target on SCRX. Roth says, "Pipeline strong, future looks bright, SCRX has eight products in different stages. One recently approved (Fenofibrate), two under review at the FDA (head lice and "new sular"), and five in Pivotal Ph 3 trials." SCRX November option implied volatility of 59 is above its 26-week average of 37 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR) is recently up $11.43 to $98 in pre-open trading. MSTR reported 3Q EPS of $1.51 verses consensus estimates of $1.11. Cowen says, "despite the strong license performance in the Q, the company is suffering from negative license growth year to date off a weak comp." MSTR over all option implied volatility of 49 is 42 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

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

Monday October 29

• VNUS Medical Technologies (NASDAQ: VNUS) patent infringement lawsuit against Angiodynamics (NASDAQ: ANGO), Diomed Holdings (AMEX: DIO), Vascular Solutions (NASDAQ: VASC) begins.
• Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.

Tuesday October 30

• Sirius Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8am.
• MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 11am.
• U.S. Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 2pm.

Wednesday October 31

• Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 8am.
• Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ: SMSI) to report Q3 earnings; conference call at 2pm.

Thursday November 1

• PDUFA date for Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) and Mylan Laboratories' (NYSE: MYL) Nebivolol for hypertension.
• Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to report October sales at 1pm.
• General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) to report October sales at 2pm.

Friday November 2

• PDUFA Date for Sciele Pharma's (NASDAQ: SCRX) Sular formulation
• PDUFA Date for GlaxoSmithKline's (NYSE: GSK) Variza for major depression disorder

Monday August 20

• Lowe's Companies Inc (NYSE: LOW) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 9am.
• PDUFA Date for Sciele Pharmaceutical Inc's (NASDAQ: SCRX) LCP-FenoChol(Fenofibrate) for adjunctive therapy to diet for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Tuesday August 21

• Staples Inc (NASDAQ: SPLS) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 8am.
• Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 10:30am.

Wednesday August 22

• CA Incorporated (NYSE: CA) annual meeting of stockholders at 10am.
• Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 4:30pm.
• Richmond Federal Bank President Lacker to speak at 12:30pm in Charlotte, NC about the U.S. Economic Outlook.

Thursday August 23

• Constellation Energy Group Inc (NYSE: CEG) analyst meeting at 2pm.
• Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 5pm.

Friday August 24

• H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE: HNZ) to report Q1 earnings; conference call at 8:30am.
• PDUFA Date for IDM Pharmaceutical Inc's (NASDAQ: IDMI) MTP-PE (Mifamurtide), formerly Junovan, newly diagnosed resectable high grade osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in combination with chemotherapies.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Dow Chemical (DOW), Smart Modular (SMOD), Wolverine World Wide (WWW), Win-Dixie Stores (WINN) and Blue Nile (BLUE) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• UBS is positive on the ethylene cycle over the next two years and believes Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) can beat 2008 consensus estimates, initiating shares with a Buy rating.

• JMP Securities started Smart Modular (NASDAQ: SMOD) with a Strong Buy as a unit volume growth theme without much dependence on commodity memory chip pricing.

• Citigroup expects further upside given Wolverine World Wide's (NYSE: WWW) strong portfolio of brands, further growth opportunities through line extensions and international growth. The firm started Wolverine World Wide with a Buy rating and $33 target.

• Winn-Dixie Stores (NASDAQ: WINN) was started with a Market Perform rating, citing low levels of profitability and unproven ability to drive sustainable profitable sales.

• American Technology believes the valuation of Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) leaves little room for upside, despite a highly attractive business model and strong fundamentals, and started shares with a Sell rating and $45 target...

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Susquehanna started King Pharma (NYSE: KG), Sepracor (NASDAQ: SEPR) with Neutral ratings and Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) with a Positive rating.

• Citigroup initiated shares of Quicksilver Inc (NYSE: ZQK) with a Hold rating.

• Longbow started Mips Tech (NASDAQ: MIPS) with a Buy rating and $12 target.

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