Analyst Upgrades

• RightNow (RNOW) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Vivo Participacoes (VIV) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Genesis Energy (GEL) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.

Analyst Downgrades

• First Community (FCBC) and WesBanco (WSBC) to hold from buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
• Dresser Rand (DRC) to neutral from buy at Global Hunter.

U.S. stock futures fell sharply Tuesday, a day after a massive relief rally washed over Wall Street and global stocks. But despite the nearly $1 trillion rescue package the European Union announced Monday, doubts remain on how Greece will cut its budget deficit. Meanwhile, as investors awaited inventories data, they also digested news of rising prices in China.

World stocks and the euro fell Tuesday. In Europe, major indices were down some 1.5% and the euro also gave up most of its recent days' gains. Concerns that the European Central Bank might lose some of its independence because of its new role in sweeping up government bonds. Also, it's moving in reverse direction -- expansionary monetary policy -- than other central banks that start to normalize it.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

"Vivo Participações (VIV), a Brazilian telecommunication company that provides cellular services, is my top investment pick for 2010," says Bill Wilton.

The growth stock strategist for Zacks.com, explains, "Analysts continue to raise full-year estimates for the company." Here's his bullish review.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), NYSE Euronext Inc (NYSE: NYX) is investigating the trading of ABN Amro Holdings NV (NYSE: ABN) shares in March when it announced it may sell itself to Barclays plc (NYSE: BCS).
• Barron's (subscription required) "Inside Scoop" column reported that hedge fund ValueAct Capital Partners has boosted its stake in Advanced Medical Optics Inc (NYSE: EYE) to 12.6%, up from 9.9% disclosed at the beginning of June.
• The Financial Times reported that Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) is not going to reduce its financing of buyouts in the near future, said Citigroup CEO Chuck Prince.
• Spanish telecom company Telefonica SA (NYSE: TEF) has made a EUR3B-plus offer to Portugal Telecom (NYSE: PT) for exclusive control of Vivo Participacoes (NYSE: VIV), reported the Financial Times.

OTHER PAPERS:

• Australian mining company BHP Billiton Limited (NYSE: BHP) has opened talks with private equity firms about a possible $40B takeover of aluminum company Alcoa Inc (NYSE: AA), reported the UK Times.