Analyst Upgrades

• Cree (CREE) and Rubicon Technology (RBCN) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Children's Place (PLCE) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Lockheed Martin (LMT) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Copano Energy (CPNO) to outperform from market perform at Morgan Keegan.
• Motorola Mobility (MMI) to neutral from reduce at Nomura.
• Parker-Hannifin (PH) to buy from hold at KeyBanc.
• Akamai (AKAM), ShoreTel (SHOR), AMB Property (AMB) and ProLogis (PLD) to buy from hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) said its Q1 earnings doubled, easily topping analysts' expectations.
• Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC) said Q1 revenue grew, but disappointing earnings dragged down shares.
• Chevron Corp. (CVX) had strong Q1 earnings and boosted its dividend, but Gulf spill concerns weighed on shares.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) Q1 earnings topped consensus estimates but it also said same-store sales slipped.
• Freddie Mac (FRE) said its lost $8 billion in Q1, less than a year ago, and requested further bailout funds.

Shares of Sequenom (SQNM) are in danger of breaching key technical support as traders pan the company's first-quarter earnings report. Thursday, SQNM confessed to a loss of 27 cents per share, right in line with analysts' expectations. Revenue arrived at $10.6 million, outpacing consensus forecasts for $10.2 million. So, why did the stock slip more than 12% lower in morning trading?

Traders are likely eyeing two unsavory data points in Sequenom's report. Gross margin dropped year-over-year from 60.6% to 50.5%, while research and development (R&D) expenses jumped from $8.8 million to $11.2 million on an annual basis. Additionally, Sequenom predicted that it won't be ready to file for a premarket approval on its noninvasive T21 test until the end of 2012.

Today was one of those days that started directionless and ended up less bad than it looked toward the end. Mortgage applications were down and the earnings picture was mixed. Alan Greenspan dodged the heat that he was responsible for the crash after the bubble in testimony today, although there is still much debate on that. Gold came almost to a 2010 high measured by the key ETF, and the 10-Year Treasury auction went better than many expected.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,897.52 -72.47 (-0.66%)
S&P 500 1,182.44 -6.99 (-0.59%)
Nasdaq 2,431.16 -5.65 (-0.23%)

The FOMC not only kept rates at near-zero, the FOMC promised again that an "extended period" was left in the statement with a 9-1 vote to leave rates unchanged. Today was one of those days where overseas markets were up on Greece debt hopes, and the negative DJIA in the morning reversed itself for gains most of the day.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,685.98 +43.83 (0.41%) S&P 500 1,159.46 +8.95 (0.78%) Nasdaq 2,378.01 +15.80 (0.67%)

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UnitedHealth (UNH) closed at $33.08. President Obama announced a proposal giving the federal government new power to block excessive rate increases by insurers as part of the health care bill. March put option implied volatility is at 39, June is at 38, versus its 26-week average of 40, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Three stocks with IV rise on Feb 22: Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) +14%, Sequenom (SQNM) + 11%, Salix Pharma (SLXP) +14%, according to IVolatility.

CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) at 19.94; 10-day moving average is 22.91, 50-day is 21.47, 200-day moving average is 24.95.

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

Today was a tough day to call ahead of time despite the notion that the stocks were getting oversold. Washington D.C was closed and New York City is getting close to closing many services Wednesday because of yet another huge snow dump. The larger second wave of the rally today was based entirely on the leaks, rumors, and hopes of a Greece bailout either by Germany or by the E.U. in some form or fashion.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,058.64 +150.25 (1.52%)
S&P 500 1,070.52 +13.78 (1.30%)
Nasdaq 2,150.87 +24.82 (1.17%)

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Today had all the earmarks of a great day to continue the bull market rallying on and on. There was a strong bullish bias and both Intel Corporation (INTC) and JPMorgan Chase & Company (JPM) both beat earnings. CPI remained tame, but the reading of consumer sentiment held things up. Most importantly, you have a bias set for this new earnings season. These stocks are up massively, and that much needed and way overdue pullback might finally be coming into play. The problem is that so far we are ten months now that every time that is about to happen, it has failed to materialize.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,609.65 -100.90 (-0.94%)
S&P 500 1,136.03 -12.43 (-1.08%)
Nasdaq 2,287.99 -28.75 (-1.24%)

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The Federal Reserve's cautious Beige Book may have been a small catalyst to keep a lid on the market, but the real weakness was after the 10-Year Treasury auction came in very weak and 10-year Treasury rates flirted with 4%. Higher draw-downs in oil inventories also kept energy prices higher. Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,739.02 -24.04 (-0.27%)
S&P 500 939.15 -3.28 (-0.35%)
Nasdaq 1,853.08 -7.05 (-0.38%)

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Today was one of those days where the overall market direction never felt entrenched nor felt certain. The news of ten banks getting to pay back TARP funds created mixed reactions, as the news was expected. Positive guidance from a chip leader may have kept the wheels on the cart for technology stocks. Oil also spent much of the day flirting with the $70 per barrel mark.

With the swings we are seeing from positive to negative, it is just further evidence that there is a battleground between bulls and bears forming. So far the bulls are managing to keep the high ground. Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

DJIA
S&P500
NASDAQ

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Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) Q1 profit fell despite strong sales of Plavix and Abilify.
• Check Point Software Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKP) was downgraded based on its guidance.
• Domino's Pizza Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) strong Q1 results were boosted by early debt retirement.
• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) strong Q1 results were driven by Madagascar 2.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ENDP) Q1 results led to an analyst's downgrade.
• E*Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ETFC) widened its Q1 loss, sending shares sharply lower.

Look for Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) to be smacked hard by selling pressure today. Late Wednesday, the company reported that improper handling of research and development test data and results by its employees has delayed the launch of its Down's Syndrome test. Sequenom said it's forming a special committee to investigate employee activity related to the tainted test data.

The company's SEQureDx tests the DNA of a fetus, via the mother's blood, in order to determine whether their blood groups are compatible. Although Sequenom can no longer rely on previously announced test data and results, Chief Executive Harry Stylli asserted, "We are not back at square one" on a conference call.

Intermune (NASDAQ: ITMN) closed at $11.72. ITMN's Pirfenidone Capacity data is expected soon. ITMN February 12.5 straddle is priced at $7.40, April 12.5 straddle is at $9.80 and July 12.5 straddle is priced at $14.10 according to Track Data, suggesting large price movement.

Sequenom (NASDAQ: SQNM) closed at $23.09. SQNM will present Down's syndrome data after the market close today. SQNM February option implied volatility is at140; March is at 120; above its 26-week average of 103, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Sequenom (NASDAQ: SQNM) makes the MassARRAY system, a nucleic acid analysis platform that identifies and quantifies genetic target materials. The system is composed of electronic analysis equipment, related software and various consumables. It is used in biomedical research, livestock testing, oncology diagnoses, molecular medicine, noninvasive prenatal testing, and infectious disease identification. Customers include clinical research laboratories, biotechnology concerns, and universities.

The company surprised the Street last week, when it announced a successful trial of its prenatal test used to detect Down-syndrome in a mother's blood. In blinded studies involving 200 clinical samples, Sequenom's proprietary test identified all Down-syndrome samples with no false positives. The company pointed out that current testing options have a detection rate of 70-90%, with false-positive rates as high as 5%. Management said it will start a study of several thousand samples in the fourth quarter, in preparation for a U.S. launch of the test in the first half of 2009.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: AU Optronics, General Steel and Sequenom were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Jefferies initiated AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) with a Buy rating and $25 target and believes LCD trends will be healthy in 2008 despite a soft economy.
  
• General Steel (NYSE: GSI) shares were started at Merriman with a Buy rating, as the firm believes strong demand for steel in China should last for years and finds the valuation attractive at current levels.
  
• Cantor believes Sequenom (NASDAQ: SQNM) is positioned to establish sustainable market leadership as a provider of genome analytical products and molecular diagnostics. Shares were assumed with a Buy rating and $12 target.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• UBS initiated Altria Group (NYSE: MO) with a Buy rating and $30 target.
  
• Canaccord Adams assumed Drugstore.com (NASDAQ: DSCM) with a Buy rating and $3.50 target.
  
• Goldman Sachs initiated DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) with a Buy rating and $30 target.