While General Electric's (GE) fire alarm and security business is solid, it's simply not big enough to keep the company's interest. In such an industry, it's critical to be the industry leader.

So this week, GE agreed to sell the unit to United Technologies (UTX) for $1.82 billion. Rumors of the deal have been buzzing since the summer.

The jet age is starting to re-assert itself, which is why I'm Reiterating my Buy rating for United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), first recommended on February 13, 2009 at a price of $47.09. If you bought UTX in February, you're up about 35%.

The projected 3-4% FY2010 revenue growth for UTX is looking a tad low, due to large order backlogs for both Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Airbus. Wall Street had factored-in some order deferments/cancellations, and that did weigh on United Technologies shares this summer, but now it appears the D/Cs will not be as large, which removes a potential revenue cloud.

Rising oil prices a positive development for economies around the world? For the new investor, that may appear to be a contradiction in terms, but experienced investors know it's not.

The International Energy Agency's 350,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) increase in its 2010 global oil demand forecast to 86.05 million bpd is a positive development for both the U.S. and global economies – positive, that is, provided oil prices don't return to stratospheric levels.

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

• Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) shares rose after it reaffirmed its full-year earnings and sales outlook.
• Automatic Data Processing Inc. (NASDAQ: ADP) will have low double-digit EPS growth, predicts one analyst.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) posted a decline in earnings but a small rise in sales, sending shares lower.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings and higher revenue.
• CarMax Inc. (NYSE: KMX) rallied to a new 52-week high after topping analysts' Q2 earnings expectations.
• Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) reported better-than-expected Q3 results and raised its full-year guidance.

Analyst upgrades:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Blackrock (NYSE: BLK) to Buy from Hold as it believes the BGI acquisition is becoming more accretive with the market rally and that the company's core trends are healthy. The firm raised its target on shares to $230 from $180.
• Citigroup upgraded Burlington Northern (NYSE: BNI) to Hold from Sell as it believes the risk/reward on shares is balanced based on 2010 estimates. Citi raised its target on shares to $89 from $75.
• Auriga upgraded Eclipsys (NASDAQ: ECLP) to Buy from Hold on expectations the company's margin expansion initiatives will drive benefits in 2010 and 2011. The firm raised its target on shares to $24 from $16.
• Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) was upgraded to Overweight from Market Weight at Thomas Weisel and to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital.
• CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says the weak dollar is benefiting U.S. corporations and no longer going against them.

Why have the industrials been so red-hot? Why do they seem to levitate? One reason, of course, is that people think the economy's getting better. A second reason is that even if the economy stands still vs. last year the comparisons will be amazing and nothing gets the juices going more rapidly than easy comparisons.

Why will they be so glaring? First, the layoffs have been brutal, the cost-cutting immense and it hasn't hurt at all ... yet. It is totally and unequivocally positive.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) provides technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries.

Its stock has built a strong base that began in October 2008. In early July, UTX flashed a bullish gold cross. Then, in mid-August, it broke out from a quadruple-top.

If you're looking for the most accurate way to predict the direction a stock or the market is headed, technical analysis is it.

Of course, no chart pattern is accurate all of the time (which is why technical analysis is more of an art than a science), but it's the closest you're going to get to a sure thing in the stock market.

So I'm offering up six technical trades today. Each of these stocks' charts are giving off extremely bullish signals and look ready to run higher.

Another Dow component, United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), beat its bottom-line forecasts, but like most of the companies we've seen, they did so as a result of cost-cutting.

Revenues of $13.2 billion were below the consensus forecast for revenue of $13.92 billion. The diversified manufacturer also cut its revenue guidance for the year, and lowered the high-end of its profit forecast range.

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

• AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKS) posted a smaller-than-expected Q2 net loss as steel prices rise.
• Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX) posted a better-than-expected Q2 profit on strong overseas sales.
• Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) shares jumped after it beat earnings, missed revenues, and offered guidance.
• DuPont (NYSE: DD) shares declined after it posted a higher-than-expected profit but lower revenue.
• Eaton Corp. (NYSE: ETN) disappointing results were a sign that the bulls are in charge, said Jim Cramer.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) Q2 earnings and sales declined, dragged down by finance and NBC units.

Today's news boiled down to two issues. First was that five DJIA components reporting earnings this morning, with details on three components. The second issue was Ben Bernanke testifying that inflation was not a huge concern because the economy is likely to stay frail for some time. The markets were mixed to down most of the day until a late day rally saved shares.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 8,911.71 +63.56 (0.72%)
S&P 500 954.10 +2.97 (0.31%)
Nasdaq 1,914.13 +4.84 (0.25%)

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades/Downgrades

Don't be deceived by the short-term performance of United Technologies (NYSE: UTX). The weakness of the dollar in the second quarter helped push shares of this multinational manufacturer higher. But these gains merely allowed the company to recover big losses sustained during the first quarter of the year.

The double whammy here for investors is exposure to the aerospace industry. As described previously, the weakness in the airline industry will negatively impact revenue for those companies providing equipment to the space. In addition, reductions in defense spending will also negatively impact UTX.

We are in the early stages of seeing change in how this company operates in the current environment. There is no catalyst for this stock to go higher, and shares are vulnerable to the extent the dollar strengthens. I would sell UTX.

Next: Stock to Avoid #9

I'm reiterating my Buy rating for United Technologies (NYSE: UTX), first recommended on February 13, 2009 at a price of $47.09.

True, the recession has caused air travel - leisure and business - to sag, but nothing in this era suggests the United States' two most prominent expressions of modernism - the skyscraper and airplane - are likely to be in less demand, as the U.S./global economic recoveries begin. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for UTX are $4.09 to $4.44.

TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says a data point out of Germany gives him cause for hope.

I have seen the future, and it is German manufacturing orders! We are always looking for totems when we are teetering on the second dip, and a number that came out today from Germany showing a 4.4% increase in May manufacturing orders -- the best in two years -- ignited the European markets and should do the same for ours.

It's been no secret that our economy's doing nothing while the Chinese economy does all the heavy lifting. But what happens if Europe, which is supposed to be so, so sick, gets better? I don't know a soul who believes that Europe isn't worse than the U.S., with their banks being in far worse shape and their governments showing no signs of being worried about anything but Weimar.

"Being a great company is just half of the equation; buying a great company at a great price is the key to successful investing," says Jim Stack, a money manager noted for having accurately forecast the market's troubles over the past year.

In InvesTech Market Analyst, he looks to one stock that meets this criteria. He states, "An enviable line-up of dominant brands, outstanding profitability, financial strength, and attractive valuation make United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) a compelling buy."

"For most people, UTX is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, providing many of the everyday industrial components we take for granted, but rarely think about.