Saturday, April 30, 2011

Dividend Yields for (QEP) (PXD) (SYY) (SVU) (WMT)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies QEP Resources Inc (QEP), Pioneer Natural Resources Co (PXD), Sysco Corp (SYY), SUPERVALU Inc (SVU) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT).

These dividend data indicate dividend yields of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index as of Saturday, April 30. The yield is determined by taking the latest declared dividend, annualized and divided by the price of the stock. Payout ratios are calculated based on latest quarterly dividend paid divided by earnings.

QEP Resources Inc (QEP) has a dividend yield of 0.19 percent on a declared dividend of $0.02. The payout ratio is 4.8 percent.

Pioneer Natural Resources Co (PXD) has a dividend yield of 0.08 percent on a declared dividend of $0.04. The payout ratio is 4.3 percent.

Sysco Corp (SYY) has a dividend yield of 3.60 percent on a declared dividend of $0.26. The payout ratio is 58.9 percent.

SUPERVALU Inc (SVU) has a dividend yield of 3.11 percent on a declared dividend of $0.09. The payout ratio is 19.5 percent.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT) has a dividend yield of 2.66 percent on a declared dividend of $0.36. The payout ratio is 31.8 percent.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Price Targets on (HLS) (HS) (INFN) (IP) (JNJ) Updated

Price targets on HealthSouth (NYSE: HLS), HealthSpring, Inc (NYSE: HS), Infinera Corp. (NASDAQ: INFN), International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) were updated today.

Morgan Keegan raised their price target on shares of HealthSouth (HLS) from $29.25 to $32.00.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on HealthSpring, Inc (HS) from $46.00 to $48.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) cut their price target on Infinera Corp. (INFN) from $9.50 to $9.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on International Paper Company (IP) from $35.00 to $39.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) raised their price target on Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) from $67.00 to $72.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (GPRO) (GWR) (HERO) (HHS) (HLS) Updated

Price targets on Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO), Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (NYSE: GWR), Hercules Offshore, Inc. (NASDAQ: HERO), Harte-Hanks, Inc. (NYSE: HHS) and HealthSouth (NYSE: HLS) were updated today.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) from $75.00 to $92.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Jefferies raised their price target on Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWR) from $54.00 to $64.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Global Hunter Securities raised their price target on Hercules Offshore, Inc. (HERO) from $7.00 to $7.50.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on Harte-Hanks, Inc. (HHS) from $15.00 to $11.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Jefferies raised their price target on HealthSouth (HLS) to $30.00.

Price Targets on (CERN) (DOX) (EDMC) (EXPE) (FLS) Updated

Price targets on Cerner Corp (NASDAQ: CERN), Amdocs Limited (NYSE: DOX), Education Management Corp (NASDAQ: EDMC), Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) and Flowserve Corp (NYSE: FLS) were updated today.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Cerner Corp (CERN) from $115.00 to $120.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Amdocs Limited (DOX) from $33.50 to $36.00.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their price target on Education Management Corp (EDMC) from $18.00 to $17.00.

UBS AG ((NYSE:UBS) raised their price target on Expedia, Inc. (EXPE) from $25.00 to $27.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

UBS AG raised their price target on Flowserve Corp (FLS) from $134.00 to $138.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Price Targets on CAVM) (BEN) (CERN) (CMP) (D) Updated

Price targets on Cavium Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM), Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), Cerner Corp (NASDAQ: CERN), Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) and Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE: D) were updated today.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Cavium Networks, Inc. (CAVM) from $50.00 to $55.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) from $134.00 to $135.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Cerner Corp (CERN) from $107.00 to $116.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) from $94.00 to $92.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Dominion Resources, Inc. (D) from $44.50 to $48.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (BEN) (BLL) (CAM) (CATM) (CAVM) Updated

Price targets on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), Ball Co. (NYSE: BLL), Cameron International (NYSE: CAM), Cardtronics (NASDAQ: CATM) and Cavium Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM) were updated today.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) from $125.00 to $130.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Ball Co. (BLL) from $42.00 to $48.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Howard Weil cut their price target on Cameron International (CAM) from $65.00 to $63.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Cardtronics (CATM) from $21.00 to $23.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (RIMM) (AET) (ARBA) (AVT) (BEN) Updated

Price targets on Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET), Ariba, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARBA), Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) and Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) were updated today.

Wunderlich placed a price target of $76.00 on Research In Motion (RIMM).

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Aetna Inc. (AET) from $38.00 to $43.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Ariba, Inc. (ARBA) from $30.00 to $38.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Avnet, Inc. (AVT) from $43.00 to $47.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised their price target on Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) from $160.00 to $163.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Ratings on (SFN) (STEL) (VCI) (VFC) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings on SFN Group Inc (NYSE: SFN), StellarOne Corp (NASDAQ: STEL), Valassis Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VCI) and V.F. Co. (NYSE: VFC).

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated a “buy” rating on SFN Group Inc (SFN). They have a price target of $17.00 on the company.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of StellarOne Corp (STEL).

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Valassis Communications, Inc. (VCI). They have a price target of $42.00 on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) reiterated a “buy” rating on V.F. Co. (VFC). They have a price target of $117.00 on the company.

Ratings on (MBFI) (NWL) (NYX) (RGC) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings on MB Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBFI), Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL), NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) and Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on MB Financial, Inc. (MBFI). They have a price target of $23.00 on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) reiterated a “buy” rating on Newell Rubbermaid (NWL). They have a price target of $22.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “hold” rating on NYSE Euronext (NYX). They now have a price target of $39.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on Regal Entertainment (RGC).

Ratings on (EMN) (LEA) (MBFI) (MWW) (NVDA) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings Eastman Chemical Co (NYSE: EMN), Lear Co. (NYSE: LEA), MB Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBFI), Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Eastman Chemical Co (EMN). They have a price target of $105.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “buy” rating on Lear Co. (LEA). They have a price target of $62.00 on the company.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc reiterated an “outperform” rating on of MB Financial, Inc. (MBFI).

Oppenheimer reiterated an “overweight” rating on Monster Worldwide, Inc. (MWW). They have a price target of $27.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated a “neutral” rating on NVIDIA (NVDA). They have a price target of $17.00 on the company.

Ratings on (CVH) (EK) (INFN) (GDOT) (HLIT) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings on Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH), Eastman Kodak Compan (NYSE: EK), Infinera Corp. (NASDAQ: INFN), Green Dot Co. (NASDAQ: GDOT) and Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH). They have a price target of $32.00 on the company.

BMC Equities Research reiterated a “hold” rating on Eastman Kodak Company (EK).

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “hold” rating on Infinera Corp. (INFN).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Green Dot Co. (GDOT). They have a price target of $60.00 on the company.

Jefferies reiterated a “hold” rating on Harmonic (HLIT). They have a price target of $9.00 on the company.

Ratings on (CME) (CPT) (CVH) (DECK) (DSPG) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings on CME Group Inc. (NYSE: CME), Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT), Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH), Deckers Outdoor (NASDAQ: DECK) and DSP Group (NASDAQ: DSPG).

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc reiterated a “market perform” rating on CME Group Inc. (CME).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Camden Property Trust (CPT). They have a price target of $51.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH).

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “buy” rating on Deckers Outdoor (DECK).

Lazard Capital reiterated a “neutral” rating on DSP Group (DSPG).

Ratings on (ACOM) (AET) (BMRN) (CALX) (CAT) Reiterated

Analysts reiterate ratings on Ancestry.com Inc (NASDAQ: ACOM), Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET), Biomarin Pharm (NASDAQ: BMRN), Calix Networks (NASDAQ: CALX) and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT).

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Ancestry.com Inc (ACOM).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated an “overweight” rating on Aetna Inc. (AET). They have a price target of $46.00 on the company, up from $43.00.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on Biomarin Pharm (BMRN).

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “buy” rating on Calix Networks (CALX).

Jefferies reiterated a “buy” rating on Caterpillar Inc. (CAT). They now have a $125.00 price target on the company.

EPS of (PG) (PNRA) (RKT) (SSCC) Updated

Analysts EPS estimates on Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Panera Bread Company (NASDAQ: PNRA), Rock-Tenn Company (NYSE: RKT) and Smurfit Stone Contai (NASDAQ: SSCC) updated.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) cut their EPS estimates of Procter & Gamble (PG). They now have an “overweight” rating and a $72.00 price target on the company.

Goldman Sachs raised their EPS on Panera Bread Company (PNRA). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $120.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their EPS estimates on Rock-Tenn Company (RKT). They have a “buy” rating and a price target of $73.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs analysts cut their EPS estimates on shares of Smurfit Stone Contai (SSCC). They have a “buy” rating and a price target of $39.00 on the company.

EPS of (DWA) (FLEX) (GD) (NSC) Updated

Analysts EPS estimates of DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA), Flextronics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX), General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) updated.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) cut their EPS estimates on DreamWorks Animation (DWA). They have an “underweight” rating on the stock.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) cut their EPS estimates on Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX). They have a “buy” rating and a price target of $9.50 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their EPS estimates on General Dynamics (GD). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $77.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs raised their EPS on Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC). They have a “sell” rating and a price target of $69.00 on the company.

EPS of (AKAM) (AMZN) (BDX) (BKI) (CL) Updated

Analysts EPS estimates of Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Becton Dickinson And Co (NYSE: BDX), Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BKI) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) updated.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raised their EPS on Akamai Technologies (AKAM). They have a “buy” rating and a price target of $45.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) cut their EPS estimates on Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN). They have an “overweight” rating and a price target of $225.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs raised their EPS on Becton Dickinson And Co (BDX). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $86.00 on the company.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) raised their EPS on Buckeye Technologies Inc. (BKI). They have a “neutral” rating and a price target of $29.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs raised their EPS on Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). They have a price target of $91.00.

Ratings of (TAP) (VPRT) (TRMB) (VZ) (WM) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Molson Coors Brewing (NYSE: TAP), VistaPrint (NASDAQ: VPRT), Trimble Navigation (NASDAQ: TRMB), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Waste Management Inc (NYSE: WM) today.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) downgraded Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Trimble Navigation (TRMB) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

ThinkEquity downgraded VistaPrint (VPRT) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) downgraded Verizon (VZ) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Wunderlich downgraded Waste Management Inc (WM) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $40.00 on the company.

Ratings of (TAL) (TRLG) (RIMM) (TRMB) (SPWRA) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of TAL International Group, Inc. (NYSE: TAL), True Religion Apparel, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRLG), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Trimble Navigation (NASDAQ: TRMB) and SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA) today.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) downgraded Research In Motion (RIMM) to an “underperform” rating. They have a price target of $35.00 on the company.

Wunderlich downgraded SunPower Co. (SPWRA) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating.

Robert W. Baird downgraded TAL International Group, Inc. (TAL) from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $42.00 on the company, up from $40.00.

Standpoint Research downgraded shares of True Religion Apparel, Inc. (TRLG) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) downgraded Trimble Navigation (NASDAQ: TRMB) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $56.00 on the company.

Ratings of (SKT) (SNH) (SPWRA) (RIMM) (OSK) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (NYSE: SKT), Senior Housing (NYSE: SNH), SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Oshkosh Truck (NYSE: OSK) today.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) downgraded Oshkosh Truck (OSK) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

RBC Capital downgraded Research In Motion (RIMM) from a “top pick” rating to a “sector perform” rating. They have a price target of $55.00 on the company, down from $90.00.

Keybanc downgraded Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (SKT) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Senior Housing (SNH) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Ardour Capital downgraded SunPower Co. (SPWRA) from an “accumulate” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $23.25 on the company, up from $21.00.

Ratings of (RGC) (OSK) (RIMM) (RTIX) (GPRO) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC), Oshkosh Truck (NYSE: OSK), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), RTI Biologics Inc. (NASDAQ: RTIX) and Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO) today.

Piper Jaffray downgraded Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $78.00 on the company.

Robert W. Baird downgraded Oshkosh Truck (OSK) from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $34.00 on the company, down from $47.00.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) downgraded Regal Entertainment (RGC) from a “buy” rating to an “outperform” rating.

Gleacher & Co. downgraded Research In Motion (RIMM) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

The Benchmark Company downgraded shares of RTI Biologics Inc. (RTIX) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $3.00 on the company.

Ratings of (IM) (GPRO) (NTCT) (OSK) (RCL) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO), NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT), Oshkosh Truck (NYSE: OSK) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) today.

Brean Murray downgraded Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $88.00 on the company.

Wunderlich downgraded NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $26.00 on the company, down from $28.00.

The Benchmark Company downgraded Oshkosh Truck (OSK) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $35.00 on the company, down from $45.00.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) downgraded Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) from a “buy” rating to an “outperform” rating.

Ratings of (GPRO) (IM) (MEOH) (IMAX) (INFN) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO), Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ: MEOH), Imax Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX) and Infinera Corp. (NASDAQ: INFN) today.

William Blair downgraded Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) to a “market perform” rating.

Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Ingram Micro Inc. (IM) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) downgraded Methanex Corporation (MEOH) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Imax Corporation (IMAX) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) downgraded Infinera Corp. (INFN) to an “underweight” rating.

Ratings of (DAL) (ENDP) (FLEX) (GPRO) (HP) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), Endo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENDP), Flextronics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX), Gen-Probe Incorporated (NASDAQ: GPRO) and Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP) today.

Capstone downgraded Delta Air Lines (DAL) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating.

Duncan Williams downgraded Endo Pharmaceuticals (ENDP) to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $51.00 on the company.

Argus analysts downgraded Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Gleacher & Co. downgraded Gen-Probe Incorporated (GPRO) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Helmerich & Payne (HP) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Ratings of (CCE) (CEG) (CHH) (CRR) (CRY) Downgraded

Analysts downgraded ratings of Coca-Cola Enterprises (NYSE: CCE), Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG), Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH), Carbo Ceramics (NYSE: CRR) and CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY) today.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) downgraded Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Wunderlich downgraded Constellation Energy Group (CEG) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $39.00 on the company, up from $36.00.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) downgraded Choice Hotels (CHH) from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Global Hunter Securities downgraded Carbo Ceramics (CRR) from an “accumulate” rating to a “neutral” rating.

The Benchmark Company downgraded CryoLife, Inc. (CRY) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $6.50 on the company, down from $7.00.

Upgrades for (SPWRA) (UIS) (WFR) (ZMH) Ratings

Analysts upgraded SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA), Unisys (NYSE: UIS), MEMC Electronic Materials Inc (NYSE: WFR) and Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH) today.

Wedbush upgraded SunPower Co. (SPWRA) from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $20.00 on the company, up from $11.00.

Susquehanna upgraded Unisys (UIS) to a “neutral” rating.

Wunderlich upgraded MEMC Electronic Materials Inc (WFR) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $16.00 on the company, up from $12.00.

Lazard Capital upgraded shares of Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (ZMH) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating.

Upgrades for (MSA) (OIS) (PG) (PTEN) (SMBL) Ratings

Analysts upgraded Mine Safety Appliances (NYSE: MSA), Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE: OIS), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Patterson-UTI (NASDAQ: PTEN) and Smart Balance Inc (NASDAQ: SMBL) today.

Robert W. Baird upgraded Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $44.00 on the company, up from $39.00.

Global Hunter Securities upgraded Oil States International, Inc. (OIS) from an “accumulate” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $97.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded Procter & Gamble (PG) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $72.00 on the company.

Howard Weil upgraded shares of Patterson-UTI (PTEN) from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $38.00 on the company, up from $32.00.

Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded Smart Balance Inc (SMBL) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating.

Upgrades for (DISCA) DOW) (EXXI) (FRME) (GWW) Ratings

Analysts upgraded Discovery (NASDAQ: DISCA), The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), Energy XXI (NASDAQ: EXXI), First Merchants Co. (NASDAQ: FRME) and W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW) today.

Barrington Research upgraded Discovery (DISCA) to an “outperform” rating.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating.

Global Hunter Securities upgraded Energy XXI (EXXI) from an “accumulate” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $44.00 on the company, up previously from $36.00.

Stifel Nicolaus upgraded First Merchants Co. (FRME) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $11.00 on the company.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) upgraded W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating. They now have a price target of $138.00 on the company, down from $170.00.

Upgrades for Boeing (BA) (ABMD) (ASTE) (BRY) (CL) Ratings

Analysts upgraded Abiomed (NASDAQ: ABMD), Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTE), The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), Berry Petroleum (NYSE: BRY) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) today.

Robert W. Baird upgraded Abiomed (ABMD) from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $20.00 on the company, up from $16.00.

Barrington Research upgraded Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $50.00 on the company.

HSBC upgraded The Boeing Company (BA) from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral.”

Global Hunter Securities upgraded Berry Petroleum Comp (BRY) from an “accumulate” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $63.00 on the company, up from $55.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $92.00 on the company.

Varian (VAR) (WIT) (WPI) (TUP) (WYN) (XLNX) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR), Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT), Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NYSE: WPI), Tupperware Brands Co. (NYSE: TUP), Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) and Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) raised by analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Varian Medical Systems (VAR) from $65.00 to $68.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Wipro Limited (WIT) to $14.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (WPI) from $62.00 to $72.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Tupperware Brands Co. (TUP) from $64.00 to $72.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Wyndham Worldwide (WYN) from $38.00 to $41.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Auriga raised their price target on Xilinx, Inc. (XLNX) from $36.00 to $39.00. They now have a “buy” rating on the company.

Wyndham (WYN) (SRCL) (TDY) (TMO) (URBN) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) and Stericycle Inc (NASDAQ: SRCL) raised by analysts.

Wunderlich raised their price target on Stericycle Inc (SRCL) to $85.00.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (TDY) from $48.00 to $50.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Jefferies raised their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) from $66.00 to $68.00.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Universal Health Services (UHS) from $52.00 to $60.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Needham & Company cut their price target on Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) from $51.00 to $48.00. They have a “strong buy” rating on the company.

FBR Capital raised their price target on Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) from $39.00 to $41.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

3SBio (SSRX) (TBI) (RNOW) (SFLY) (RNOW) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on 3SBio Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRX), Trueblue Inc (NYSE: TBI), RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW), Shutterfly (NASDAQ: SFLY) and RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW) raised by analysts.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW) from $38.00 to $40.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on Starbucks (SBUX) from $39.00 to $38.00.

Oppenheimer raised their price target on 3SBio Inc. (SSRX) from $17.50 to $21.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) cut their price target on Trueblue Inc (TBI) from $20.00 to $18.00.

Jefferies raised their price target on Shutterfly (SFLY) from $49.00 to $63.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Starbucks (SBUX), (RNOW) (SCG) (SFLY) (SRCL) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW), Scana Corporation (NYSE: SCG), Shutterfly (NASDAQ: SFLY) and Stericycle Inc (NASDAQ: SRCL) raised by analysts.

Deutsche Bank (NSYE:DB) raised their price target on RightNow Technologies (RNOW) from $30.00 to $33.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Starbucks (SBUX) from $46.00 to $48.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Wunderlich raised their price target on Scana Corporation (SCG) to $44.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Shutterfly (SFLY) from $40.00 to $55.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Stericycle Inc (SRCL) from $80.00 to $85.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Praxair (PX) (REGN) (RNOW) (RNR) (RRC) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), Regeneron Pharms (NASDAQ: REGN), RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW), RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: RNR) and Range Resources (NYSE: RRC) raised by analysts.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Praxair, Inc. (PX) from $113.00 to $122.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Regeneron Pharms (REGN) from $48.00 to $70.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Needham & Company raised their price target on RightNow Technologies (RNOW) from $31.00 to $36.00. Theyhave a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR) from $68.00 to $73.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Range Resources (RRC) from $68.00 to $70.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Pentair (PNR) (NSC) (ODFL) (PH) (PMTC) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC), Old Dominion (NASDAQ: ODFL), Parker-Hannifin Co. (NYSE: PH) and Parametric (NASDAQ: PMTC) adjusted by analysts.

FBR Capital raised their price target on Pentair, Inc. (PNR) from $38.00 to $41.00. They have a “market perform” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) from $78.00 to $79.00.

Deutsche Bank raised their price target on Old Dominion (ODFL) from $40.00 to $44.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

MKM Partners cut their price target on Parker-Hannifin Co. (PH) from $105.00 to $102.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Parametric (PMTC) from $26.00 to $28.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Open Text (OTEX) (NSC) (NVLS) (ODFL) (PFCB) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Open Text (NASDAQ: OTEX), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC), Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS), Old Dominion (NASDAQ: ODFL) and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (NASDAQ: PFCB) adjusted by analysts.

Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) from $78.00 to $83.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Needham & Company cut their price target on Novellus Systems, Inc. (NVLS) from $45.00 to $41.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Old Dominion (ODFL) from $38.00 to $46.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Wunderlich raised their price target on Open Text (OTEX) from $60.00 to $70.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital cut their price target on P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (PFCB) from $55.00 to $52.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

NutriSystem (NTRI) (NSC) (NEWP) (NOC) (NVLS) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on NutriSystem Inc (NASDAQ: NTRI), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC), Newport Co. (NASDAQ: NEWP), Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) adjusted by analysts.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) from $77.00 to $78.00.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Newport Co. (NEWP) from $22.00 to $25.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on Northrop Grumman (NOC) from $53.00 to $52.00.

Wedbush raised their price target on NutriSystem Inc (NTRI) from $13.00 to $17.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

RBC Capital cut their price target on Novellus Systems, Inc. (NVLS) from $38.00 to $36.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Newport (NEWP) (NLC) (MWV) (NOC) (NOV) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Newport Co. (NASDAQ: NEWP), Nalco Holding Co (NYSE: NLC), MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE: MWV), Northrop Grumman Cor (NYSE: NOC) and National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) adjusted by analysts.

RBC Capital raised their price target on MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV) from $35.00 to $40.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Needham & Company raised their price target on Newport Co. (NEWP) from $22.00 to $24.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Nalco Holding Co (NLC) from $30.00 to $33.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised their price target on Northrop Grumman (NOC) from $76.00 to $79.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital cut their price target on National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV) from $95.00 to $90.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Moodys (MCO) (MLNX) (FTNT) (IPCM) (ISIL) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Moodys Corporation (NYSE: MCO), Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX), Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), IPC The Hospitalist (NASDAQ: IPCM) and Intersil Corp. (NASDAQ: ISIL) raised by analysts.

The Benchmark Company raised their price target on Moodys Corporation (NYSE: MCO) from $38.00 to $43.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (MLNX) from $29.00 to $31.00.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) from $40.00 to $44.00.

RBC Capital raised their price target on IPC The Hospitalist (IPCM) from $44.00 to $50.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Intersil Corp. (ISIL) from $15.00 to $18.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Jarden (JAH) (LNC) (LSI) (FTNT) (ISIL) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Jarden Co. (NYSE: JAH), Lincoln National Co. (NYSE: LNC), LSI Co. (NYSE: LSI), Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) and Intersil Corp. (NASDAQ: ISIL) adjusted by analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Intersil Corp. (ISIL) from $13.00 to $14.00.

Morgan Keegan raised their price target on Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) from $47.00 to $50.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Jarden Co. (JAH) from $42.00 to $44.00. They now an “outperform” rating on the company.

FBR Capital raised their price target on Lincoln National Co. (LNC) from $36.00 to $38.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on LSI Co. (LSI) from $7.00 to $8.00.

Infospace (INSP) (IPCM) (EQIX) (ISIL) (ITRI) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Infospace Inc (NASDAQ: INSP), IPC The Hospitalist (NASDAQ: IPCM), Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), Intersil Corp. (NASDAQ: ISIL) and Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) adjusted by analysts.

Benchmark Co. raised their price target on Infospace Inc (INSP) from $10.00 to $11.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on IPC The Hospitalist (IPCM) from $58.00 to $60.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) from $112.00 to $115.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Intersil Corp. (ISIL) from $16.00 to $17.00.

Piper Jaffray cut their price target on Itron, Inc. (ITRI) from $65.00 to $63.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Hess (HES) (HGIC) (EQIX) (GLW) (FTNT) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Hess Corp (NYSE: HES), Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HGIC), Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) and Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT) adjusted by analysts.

Kaufman Brothers raised their price target on Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) from $83.00 to $85.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) from $44.00 to $48.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raised their price target on Corning Inc. (GLW) to $25.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Oppenheimer raised their price target on Hess Corp (HES) from $84.00 to $94.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

RBC Capital cut their price target on Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC) from $37.00 to $35.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

Fortinet (FTNT) (FLEX) (FTI) (CTXS) (EQIX) Price Targets Adjusted

Price targets on Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), Flextronics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX), FMC Tech (NYSE: FTI), Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) and Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX) adjusted by analysts.

Morgan Keegan raised their price target on Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS) from $80.00 to $90.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) from $110.00 to $120.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX) from $10.00 to $8.50. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Global Hunter Securities raised their price target on FMC Tech (FTI) from $43.50 to $49.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

Needham & Company raised their price target on Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) from $44.00 to $53.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Schnitzer (SCHN) (USAP) (MEA) (ROCK) (CPSL) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel producers like Schnitzer Steel Industries (NASDAQ:SCHN), Universal Stainless & Alloy Pr (Nasdaq:USAP), Metalico Inc. (AMEX:MEA), Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:ROCK) and China Precision Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPSL); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively. The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Equinix (EQIX) (ENR) (EBAY) (CTXS) (BIDU) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX), Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR), eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) and Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) raised by analysts.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) raised their price target on Baidu.com, Inc. (BIDU) from $135.00 to $177.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS) from $72.00 to $80.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on eBay, Inc. (EBAY) from $30.00 to $36.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR) from $76.00 to $82.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Equinix, Inc. (EQIX) from $105.00 to $115.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Pan American (PAAS) (MGN) (AG) (IM) Close Mixed as Silver, Gold Break Records

Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS), Mines Management (AMEX:MGN), First Majestic (NYSE:AG) and International Minerals (TSE:IM) closed mixed Thursday even as silver and gold prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Silvercorp (SVM) (GPL) (SSRI) (SLW) Close Down as Silver, Gold Break Records

Silvercorp Metals Inc. (NYSE:SVM), Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) and Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) all closed down Thursday even as silver and gold prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Delphi Fin (DFG) (ECPG) (EBAY) (CTXS) (BIDU) Price Targets Raised

Price targets on Delphi Fin (NYSE: DFG), Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) and Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) raised by analysts.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Baidu.com, Inc. (BIDU) from $143.00 to $181.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the stock.

ISI Group raised their price target on Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS) from $70.00 to $80.00. They have a “hold” rating on the stock.

Wunderlich raised their price target on Delphi Fin (DFG) from $34.00 to $37.00. They have a “buy” rating on the stock.

Benchmark Co. raised their price target on eBay, Inc. (EBAY) from $30.00 to $36.00.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Encore Capital Group, Inc. (ECPG) from $37.00 to $38.00.

Mag (MVG) (FVITF) (HL) (AMEX: EXK) Close Down as Silver, Gold Break Records

Mag Silver Corporation (AMEX:MVG), Fortuna (OTC:FVITF.PK), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) and Endeavour Silver (AMEX: EXK) all closed down Thursday even as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Impact (ISVLF) (CDE) (AXU) (MFN) Close Mixed as Silver, Gold Break Records

Impact Silver (OTC:ISVLF), Coeur d'Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE), Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU) and Minefinders Corp. Ltd. (AMEX:MFN) closed mixed Thursday even as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Haynes (HAYN) (SYNL) (X) (SID) (CLF) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel companies like Haynes International Inc. (Nasdaq:HAYN), Synalloy Corp. (Nasdaq:SYNL), US Steel (NYSE:X), Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE:SID) and Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE:CLF); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively. The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Randgold (GOLD) (NG) (GBU) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Randgold (NASDAQ:GOLD), NovaGold Resources Inc. (AMEX:NG) and Gabriel Resources (TSE:GBU) closed mixed Thursday even as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Ternium (TX) (STLD) (SIM) (CMC) (TS) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel companies like Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX), Steel Dynamics Inc. (Nasdaq:STLD), Grupo Simec S.A.B. de C.V. (AMEX:SIM), Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC) and Tenaris SA (NYSE:TS); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively. The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Northgate (NXG) (AZK) (TRE) (GRS) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Northgate Minerals (AMEX:NXG), Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX:TRE) and Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS) closed mixed Thursday even as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

AK Steel (AKS) (GGB) (GNI) (IIIN) (MTL) (ZEUS) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel companies like AK Steel Holding Corporation (NYSE:AKS), Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB), Great Northern Iron Ore Proper (NYSE:GNI), Insteel Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:IIIN), Mechel OAO (NYSE:MTL) and Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq:ZEUS); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively. The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Jaguar (JAG) (KGN) (EGO) (GFI) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Keegan Resources Inc (AMEX:KGN), Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) and Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) closed down Thursday even as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices shot up while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

US Gold (UXG) (GSS) (RGLD) (ABX) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

US Gold (AMEX:UXG), Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) closed mixed Thursday as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices shot up while silver prices popped Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Bolt (BOLT) (SWN) (EPD) (LINE) Close Up as Oil, Gas Rise

Southwestern Energy (NYSE:SWN), Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD), Linn Energy, LLC (NASDAQ:LINE) and Bolt Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:BOLT) closed up as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Petrohawk (HK) (NOG) (OAS) (HNR) (PXP) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Petrohawk Energy Corp. (NYSE:HK), Northern Oil and Gas (Amex:NOG), Oasis Petroleum (NYSE:OAS), Harvest Natural Resources (NYSE:HNR) and Plains Exploration & Production (NYSE:PXP) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Carrizo (CRZO) (CPE) (ROSE) (NOV) (VLO) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ:CRZO), Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE), Rosetta Resources (NASDAQ:ROSE), National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV) and Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Kodiak (KOG) (DRQ) (EPM) (PQ) (SHI) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE:DRQ), Evolution Petroleum (Amex:EPM), PetroQuest Energy (NYSE:PQ), Kodiak Oil & Gas (Amex:KOG) and SINOPEC Shangai Petrochemical (NYSE:SHI) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Molycorp (MCP) (SHZ) (REE) (XING) (GMO) (AVL) Closed Mixed on Volatile Day

Rare earths miners like General Moly (AMEX:GMO), Avalon Rare Metals (AMEX:AVL), China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. (AMEX:SHZ), Rare Element Resources Ltd (AMEX:REE), Qiao Xing Universal Resources, (Nasdaq:XING) and Molycorp, Inc (NYSE:MCP) closed mixed Thursday as investors have been uncertain over the soaring mining sector in general, along with rare earths, as well as gold and silver as well.

Most believe that rare earth supply will remain tight for at least five years, even with the media hype of all the projects coming on line. Those proposed projects will take years to go through the process before production is ready to begin.

According to Molycorp CEO, Mark Smith, there will probably be two coming on stream within that five-year period. During that same time rare earths demand is projected to double annually.

That means those companies that already have operations going should enjoy solid pricing power during that season.

As to the silly proposal by big-government politicians concerning the Rare Earth Supply-Chain Technology and Resources Transformation Act, the last thing we need is for the government to use yet another so-called crisis or "national security" issue to expand government in a useless manner as is now being attempted.

The markets should and will sort it out, as it has already began to do.

Market Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (NYSE:REMX) closed at $27.85, falling $0.18, or 0.64 percent.

Goldcorp (GG) (AEM) (IAG) (AU) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM), IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE:IAG), Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) and AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) closed mixed Thursday as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices shot up while silver prices popped Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Vaalco (EGY) (CLR) (FTK) (GEOI) (PTR) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Continental Resources (NYSE:CLR), Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK), GeoResources (NASDAQ:GEOI), Vaalco Energy (NYSE:EGY) and PetroChina (NYSE:PTR) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Range Resources (RRC) (PBR) (TTES) (END) (ECA) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Range Resources (NYSE:RRC), T-3 Energy Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTES), Endeavour International (NYSE:END), Encana Corp. (NYSE:ECA) and Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Lufkin (LUFK) (WTI) (CWEI) (SLB) (CAM) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Lufkin Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUFK), W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI), Clayton Williams Energy (NASDAQ:CWEI), Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) and Cameron International (NYSE:CAM) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Exco (XCO) (KMP) (PETD) (BRY) (CVX) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Exco Resources Inc. (NYSE:XCO), Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE:KMP), PDC Energy (NASDAQ:PETD), Berry Petroleum (NYSE:BRY) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Syngenta (SYT) (MOS) (DE) (CF) (AGU) Down on Wheat, Corn Oversupply Fears

Syngenta (NYSE:SYT), Mosaic (NYSE:MOS), Deere (NYSE:DE), CF Industries (NYSE:CF) and Agrium (NYSE:AGU) close down Thursday on wheat, corn oversupply concerns.

A growing concern there could be a glut of wheat and corn on the market pushed down the shares of fertilizer and agriculture stocks Thursday.

"Although there have been muted concerns about the development of wheat crops in the Black Sea region, the trade is concerned that Russia and the Ukraine will be offering new crop wheat to the global market," said a Benson Quinn Commodities note.

The Ukraine also removes its corn export quota this week.

The weaker U.S. dollar wasn't enough to stem the losses Thursday. The U.S. dollar index fell 0.4% to $73.05.

Wheat for July delivery fell 2.6 percent to $7.90 3/4 a bushel. Wheat was one of the biggest commodity laggards Tuesday. Meanwhile, corn for July delivery was down 1.2 percent to $7.50¼ a bushel.

Transocean (RIG) (CRK) (CXPO) (BPL) (OIS) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Comstock Resources (NYSE:CRK), Crimson Exploration (NASDAQ::CXPO), Buckeye Partners L.P. (NYSE:BPL), Oil States Intl., Inc. (NYSE:OIS) and Transocean (NYSE:RIG) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Ivanhoe (IVN) (SA) (ANV) (NCMGY) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Seabridge Gold (AMEX:SA), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN) and Newcrest Mining (OTC:NCMGY) closed mixed Thursday as gold and silver prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices shot up while silver prices popped Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Jinko (JKS) (CSIQ) (HSOL) (PWER) Should Jump on Total (TOT) Deal

There is no doubt the move by Total SA (NYSE:TOT) to acquire a majority stake in U.S. solar company SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) will spur the industry, as it will generate the idea of who may be next to be infused with cash, such as Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ), Hanwha SolarOne Co. (NASDAQ:HSOL), Jinko Solar (NYSE:JKS) and Power-One Inc (NASDAQ:PWER).

It must be kept in mind that the China-based solar companies already have access to capital, so it probably won't affect them as much, although they'll more than likely be pulled up with the rest of the sector over the short term, based on speculation.

Analysts were suprised by the decision of Total, as the solar industry, if you can call it that, is pressured by slow sales, rising costs of raw materials, financing, no real market for the product, and shrinking government support.

If it wasn't for government subsidies there would be no solar market, and the general population couldn't care less about solar, contrary to media allusions to that effect.

That's not to say you can't make money in the industry, as it's subject to wild swings because of it being a media darling and even when it's debatable as to the validity of the industry as a whole, it won't stop the media from hyping it up and causing the share prices of solar companies to jump, as they will on the news of the deal by Total for SunPower.

Central Gold (GTU) (GLL) (UGL) (GLD) (GDX) (GDXJ) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

ProShares UltraShort Gold (NYSE:GLL), ProShares Ultra Gold (NYSE:UGL), SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEArca:GDX), Market Vectors Junior Gold Mine(NYSEArca:GDXJ) and Central Gold Trust (AMEX:GTU) closed mixed Thursday even as silver and gold prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Nucor (NUE) (WOR) (SUTR) (CRS) (GSI) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel producers like Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WOR), Sutor Technology Group, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SUTR), Carpenter Technology (NYSE:CRS), Nucor (NYSE:NUE) and General Steel Holdings, (NYSE:GSI); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively.

The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Devon (DVN) (UPL) (TAT) (BHI) (COP) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Ultra Petroleum (NYSE:UPL), TransAtlantic Petroleum (NYSE:TAT), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN) and Conoco (NYSE:COP) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Anadarko (APC) (MRO) (FTI) (STR) (WLL) Close Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO), FMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:FTI), Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR) and Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

ReneSola (SOL) (ASTI) (JASO) (LDK) Should Jump on Total (TOT) Deal

There is no doubt the move by Total SA (NYSE:TOT) to acquire a majority stake in U.S. solar company SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) will spur the industry, as it will generate the idea of who may be next to be infused with cash, such as Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI), JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO), LDK Solar (LDK) and ReneSola (NYSE:SOL).

It must be kept in mind that the China-based solar companies already have access to capital, so it probably won't affect them as much, although they'll more than likely be pulled up with the rest of the sector over the short term, based on speculation.

Analysts were surprised by the decision of Total, as the solar industry, if you can call it that, is pressured by slow sales, rising costs of raw materials, financing, no real market for the product, and shrinking government support.

If it wasn't for government subsidies there would be no solar market, and the general population couldn't care less about solar, contrary to media allusions to that effect.

That's not to say you can't make money in the industry, as it's subject to wild swings because of it being a media darling and even when it's debatable as to the validity of the industry as a whole, it won't stop the media from hyping it up and causing the share prices of solar companies to jump, as they will on the news of the deal by Total for SunPower.

ProShares UltraShort (ZSL) (AGQ) (SLV) Close Mixed as Silver, Gold Break Records

ProShares UltraShort Silver (NYSE:ZSL), ProShares Ultra Silver (NYSE:AGQ) and iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) closed mixed Thursday even as silver and gold prices broke all-time records. It appears investors are taking some profits off the top.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

Gold prices soared while silver prices climbed Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

ProShares UltraShort Silver closed Thursday at $13.43, falling $0.23, or 1.68 percent. ProShares Ultra Silver ended the day at $365.26, gaining $3.51, or 0.97 percent. iShares Silver Trust closed at $47.26, up $0.26, or 0.55 percent.

Potash (POT) (SMG) (IPI) (TNH) (MON) Down on Wheat, Corn Oversupply Fears

Potash Corp (NYSE:POT), Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG), Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI), Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (NYSE:TNH), Monsanto (NYSE:MON) close down Thursday on wheat, corn oversupply concerns.

A growing concern there could be a glut of wheat and corn on the market pushed down the shares of fertilizer and agriculture stocks Thursday.

"Although there have been muted concerns about the development of wheat crops in the Black Sea region, the trade is concerned that Russia and the Ukraine will be offering new crop wheat to the global market," said a Benson Quinn Commodities note.

The Ukraine also removes its corn export quota this week.

The weaker U.S. dollar wasn't enough to stem the losses Thursday. The U.S. dollar index fell 0.4% to $73.05.

Wheat for July delivery fell 2.6 percent to $7.90 3/4 a bushel. Wheat was one of the biggest commodity laggards Tuesday. Meanwhile, corn for July delivery was down 1.2 percent to $7.50¼ a bushel.

BP (BP) (HAL) (CHK) (BEXP) (VQ) Closed Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

BP (NYSE:BP), Halliburton (NYSE:HAL), Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE:CHK), Brigham Exploration (NASDAQ::BEXP) and Venoco Inc. (NYSE:VQ) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

Exxon (XOM) (RDS-A) (TSO) (HES) (APA) Closed Mixed as Oil, Gas Rise

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO), Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES) and Apache Corp (NYSE:APA) closed mixed as oil, gasoline and natural gas moved up in price Thursday.

Oil settled higher in volatile trading Thursday, pushed up by a collapsing U.S. dollar. After soaring to close to $114 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 10 cents, at $112.86, in futures trading in New York.

Brent North Sea crude oil fell 11 cents to settle at $125.02 a barrel on the Ice Futures exchange.

In futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, natural gas climbed 15.7 cents to settle at $4.63 per million British thermal units.

Gasoline for May delivery jumped 1.04 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $3.4298 a gallon, the highest settlement since July 14, 2008. Futures have risen 47 percent in the past year.

The Dollar Index fell to the lowest level since July 31, 2008. The index was down 0.5 percent to 73.139, its eighth straight daily decline.

SunPower (SPWRA) (FSLR) (STP) (YGE) (TSL) (SOLR) Should Jump on Total (TOT) Deal

There is no doubt the move by Total SA (NYSE:TOT) to acquire a majority stake in U.S. solar company SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) will spur the industry, as it will generate the idea of who may be next to be infused with cash, such as First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) and GT Solar International (SOLR).

It must be kept in mind that the China-based solar companies already have access to capital, so it probably won't affect them as much, although they'll more than likely be pulled up with the rest of the sector over the short term, based on speculation.

Analysts were surprised by the decision of Total, as the solar industry, if you can call it that, is pressured by slow sales, rising costs of raw materials, financing, no real market for the product, and shrinking government support.

If it wasn't for government subsidies there would be no solar market, and the general population couldn't care less about solar, contrary to media allusions to that effect.

That's not to say you can't make money in the industry, as it's subject to wild swings because of it being a media darling and even when it's debatable as to the validity of the industry as a whole, it won't stop the media from hyping it up and causing the share prices of solar companies to jump, as they will on the news of the deal by Total for SunPower.

Newmont (NEM) (AUY) (HMY) (NYSE:KGC) Close Mixed as Gold, Silver Break Records

Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM), Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY), Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY) and Kinross Gold Corp (NYSE:KGC) closed mixed Thursday as gold and silver prices broke all-time records.

Gold prices shot up while silver prices popped Thursday as investors bought the metals against a weak dollar and higher inflation expectations.

Gold for June delivery settled $14.10 higher at $1,531.20 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price soared to a record intra-day level of $1,538.80 an ounce while the spot gold price rose $6.90.

Silver prices for July moved up $1.55 to settle at $47.54 an ounce.

Spot silver jumped almost 4 percent Thursday to an all time high at $49.51 an ounce, surpassing the previous record set in 1980.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.4 percent. The collapsing greenback aided dollar-denominated gold and silver by making them less expensive for foreign buyers, generating more demand.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

POSCO (PKX) (HSC) (FRD) (CHOP) (MT) Pressured on Low Growth Steel Outlook

The steel industry, even with some strong recent quarters, looks weak, as over the next five years it is expected to grow at a pace of about 5 percent or less annually, putting downward pressure on steel producers like Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC), Friedman Industries Inc. AMEX:FRD), China Gerui Advanced Materials (Nasdaq:CHOP), POSCO (NYSE:PKX) and ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT); although they traded a little stronger Thursday.

A majority of steel companies are being forced to raise prices on their products in order to protect margins and earnings as the price of inputs and commodities rise.

That's not to say steel demand is falling, because it's not. But rising demand doesn't guarantee rising profits, as the industry is experiencing. A number of weak economies around the world could cut also into demand if steel prices and products rise to prohibitive levels.

There's no way to spin the outlook for the steel industry positively.

The industry will struggle for years even in the midst of strong demand, as they attempt to work out the balance between steel demand, rising inputs, and ability for companies and countries to afford price increases from producers.

It also looks like the U.S. economy is starting to sputter again, and that's not good news for the steel industry either.

Price Targets on (CSGP) (BIDU) (CEVA) (CTXS) (DAN) Raised

Price Targets Costar Group Inc (NASDAQ: CSGP), Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU), Ceva Inc (NASDAQ: CEVA), Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) and Dana Holding Co. (NYSE: DAN) raised by analysts.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) raised their price target on Baidu.com, Inc. (BIDU) from $99.00 to $107.00.

Wunderlich raised their price target on Ceva Inc (CEVA) from $27.00 to $32.00.

Needham & Company raised their price target on Costar Group Inc (CSGP) from $63.00 to $70.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

FBR Capital raised their price target on Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS) from $65.00 to $77.00. They have a “market perform” rating on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on shares of Dana Holding Co. (NYSE: DAN) from $20.00 to $23.00.

Price Targets on (BIDU) (ARW) (CBT) (CEVA) (CFR) Raised

Price Targets Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU), Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), Cabot Co. (NYSE: CBT), Ceva Inc (NASDAQ: CEVA) and Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR) raised by analysts.

Miller Tabak raised their price target on Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) from $50.00 to $54.00.

Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Baidu.com, Inc. (BIDU) from $144.00 to $172.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised their price target on Cabot Co. (CBT) from $44.00 to $50.00. They have a “neutral” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Ceva Inc (CEVA) from $24.00 to $28.00. They have a “sector perform” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) from $63.00 to $64.00.

Price Targets on (BA) (ARW) (BDC) (BDX) (BHI) Raised

Price Targets on Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), Belden (NYSE: BDC), Becton Dickinson And Co (NYSE: BDX) and Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI) raised by analysts.

Wedbush raised their price target on Boeing Company (BA) from $88.00 to $91.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Brean Murray raised their price target on Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) from $48.00 to $55.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Longbow Research raised their price target on Belden (BDC) from $42.00 to $46.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Becton Dickinson And Co (BDX) from $86.00 to $88.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Baker Hughes (BHI) from $83.00 to $90.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (AKAM) (ARW) (ASH) (BA) (BDC) Changed

Price Targets on Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and Belden (NYSE: BDC) changed by analysts.

FBR Capital cut their price target on Akamai Technologies (AKAM) from $44.00 to $40.00. They have a “market perform” rating on the company.

Longbow Research analysts raised their price target on Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) from $49.00 to $54.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Hilliard Lyons raised their price target on Ashland Inc. (ASH) from $70.00 to $75.00. They have a “long-term buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Boeing Company (BA) from $83.00 to $90.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Belden (BDC) from $42.00 to $44.50. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Price Targets on (ABX) AFL) (AKAM) (ARLP) (ALR) Changed

Price targets on Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE: ABX), AFLAC (NYSE: AFL), Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), Alliance Resource (NASDAQ: ARLP) and Alere Inc (NYSE: ALR) changed by analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) cut their price target on Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) from $66.00 to $57.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of AFLAC (AFL) from $65.00 to $62.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the stock.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Akamai Technologies AKAM) from $49.00 to $40.00.

Hilliard Lyons raised their price target on Alliance Resource (ARLP) from $75.00 to $80.00. They have a “long-term buy” rating on the stock.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) cut their price target on shares of Alere Inc (ALR) from $42.00 to $40.00.

Ratings on (SYA) (TER) (WDR) (WLP) Reiterated

Ratings on Symetra Financial (NYSE: SYA), Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE: TER), Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR) and WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) reiterated by analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Symetra Financial (SYA). They have a price target of $15 on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) reiterated a “buy” rating on Teradyne, Inc. (TER). They have a price target of $24.00 on the company.

Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (WDR). They now have a price target of $48 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “overweight” rating on WellPoint, Inc. (WLP). They now have a price target of $90 on the company.

Ratings on (NKTR) (NPSP) ( OTEX) (RNOW) (ROK) Reiterated

Ratings on Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR), Nps Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: NPSP), Open Text (NASDAQ: OTEX), RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ: RNOW) and Rockwell Automation Inc (NYSE: ROK) reiterated by analysts.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated a “buy” rating on Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR). They have a price target of $14 on the company.

Brean Murray reiterated a “buy” rating on Nps Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NPSP).

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) reiterated an “outperform” rating on Open Text (OTEX).

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “equal weight” rating on shares of RightNow Technologies (RNOW).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Rockwell Automation Inc (ROK).

Ratings on (CCI) (ESLR) (FPTB) (ITRI) (LNC) Reiterated

Ratings on Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI), Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLR), First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FPTB), Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Lincoln National Co. (NYSE: LNC) reiterated by Analysts.

Benchmark Co. reiterated a “buy” rating on Crown Castle (CCI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated an “underweight” rating on Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR).

Wunderlich reiterated a “buy” rating on First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. (FPTB).

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated a “sell” rating on Itron, Inc. (ITRI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating on Lincoln National Co. (LNC).

Ratings on (AIZ) (ATI) (CCI) (EQR) (DNB) Reiterated

Ratings on Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI), Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) and Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB) reiterated by Analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Assurant, Inc. (AIZ). They have a price target of $44 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Equity Residential (EQR). They now have a price target of $56 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Crown Castle (CCI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Dun & Bradstreet (DNB).

Analysts Downgrade (TER) (TRAD) (URBN) (WPI)

Analysts downgraded Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE: TER), TradeStation Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAD), Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) and Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NYSE: WPI) today.

Piper Jaffray downgraded Teradyne, Inc. (TER) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $18 on the company, down from $24.

Macquarie downgraded TradeStation Group, Inc. (TRAD) from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

William Blair downgraded Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) downgraded Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (WPI) from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Analysts Downgrade (RKT) (SATC) (SRCL) (SVVS) (TAT)

Analysts downgraded Rock-Tenn Company (NYSE: RKT), SatCon Technology (NASDAQ: SATC), Stericycle Inc (NASDAQ: SRCL), SAVVIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVVS) and Transatlantic Petroleum Limited (NYSE: TAT) today.

Credit Agricole downgraded Rock-Tenn Company (RKT) from an “outperform” rating to an “underperform” rating.

Capstone downgraded SatCon Tech (SATC) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Robert W. Baird downgraded Stericycle Inc (SRCL) from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target $95 on the company, up from $88.

RBC Capital downgraded SAVVIS, Inc. (SVVS) from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating. They have a price target of $40 on the company, up from $38.

Global Hunter Securities downgraded Transatlantic Petroleum Limited (TAT) from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating. They have a price target $3.80 on the company.

Analyst Downgrades for (OTEX) (PLCE) (PMC) (PTSI) (PX)

Analysts downgraded Open Text (NASDAQ: OTEX), Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE), Pharmerica Corporation (NYSE: PMC), P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTSI) and Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today.

Benchmark Co. downgraded Open Text (OTEX) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating. They have a price target of $56 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) downgraded Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (PLCE) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Pharmerica Corporation (PMC) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Morgan Keegan downgraded P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. (PTSI) from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Piper Jaffray downgraded Praxair, Inc. (PX) from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating. They now have a price target of $106 on the company, up from $104.

Analyst Downgrades for (LOOP) (MBLX) (MDP) (NAT) (NXY)

Analysts downgraded LoopNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOOP), Metabolix Inc (NASDAQ: MBLX), Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NYSE: NAT) and Nexen Inc. (NYSE: NXY) today.

SunTrust (NYSE:STI) downgraded LoopNet, Inc. (LOOP) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Piper Jaffray downgraded Metabolix Inc (MBLX) from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating. They have a price target of $7 on the company, down from $9.

The Benchmark Company downgraded Meredith Corporation (MDP) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $37 on the stock, down from $41.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) downgraded Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NAT) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

TD Newcrest downgraded Nexen Inc. (NXY) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Analyst Downgrades for (EAT) (ESLR) (FSRV) ( HGIC) (ITRI)

Analysts downgraded Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLR), FirstService Co. (NASDAQ: FSRV), Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HGIC) and Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) today.

Capstone downgraded Brinker International, Inc. (EAT) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Wunderlich downgraded Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating.

RBC Capital downgraded shares of FirstService Co. (FSRV) from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating. They have a price target $40 on the company, up from $35.

Wunderlich downgraded Harleysville Group Inc. (HGIC) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Wunderlich downgraded Itron, Inc. (ITRI) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating. They now have a price target of $44 on the company, down from $63.00.

Analyst Downgrades for (ACLS) (AOB) (BK) (COP) (CVS)

Analysts downgraded Axcelis Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: ACLS), American Oriental (NYSE: AOB), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) today.

Craig Hallum downgraded Axcelis Technologies Inc (ACLS) from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating.

Oppenheimer downgraded American Oriental (AOB) from an “outperform” rating to a “perform” rating.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) downgraded Bank of New York Mellon (BK) to an “equal weight” rating.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) downgraded ConocoPhillips (COP) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $85 on the company, down from $90.

Standpoint Research downgraded CVS Caremark (CVS) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They cited valuation as the catalyst.

Analyst Upgrades for (GES) (HES) (GTI) (ERIC)

Guess Inc (NYSE: GES), Hess Corp (NYSE: HES), GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: GTI) and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) received upgrades from analysts today.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (ERIC) from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) upgraded Guess Inc (GES) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a $50 price target on the company, up from $46.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded GrafTech International Ltd. (GTI) from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) upgraded Hess Corp (HES) from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $115 on the company, up from $105.

Analyst Upgrades for (ABB) (EBAY) (ERIC) (FBC) (EXC)

ABB Ltd (NYSE: ABB), eBay, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) and Exelon Co. (NYSE: EXC) received upgrades from analysts today.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded ABB Ltd (ABB) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.

Stifel Nicolaus upgraded eBay, Inc. (EBAY) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They now have a price target of $42 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (ERIC) from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating.

FBR Capital upgraded Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (FBC) from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating. They have a price target of $2.00 on the company, up from $1.75.

Macquarie upgraded Exelon Co. (EXC) from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Analyst Upgrades for (ABX) (SCG) (SFLY) (VLY) (ABB)

Scana Corporation (NYSE: SCG), Shutterfly (NASDAQ: SFLY), Valley National Bancorp (NYSE: VLY), ABB Ltd (NYSE: ABB) and Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE: ABX) received upgrades from analysts today.

The Benchmark Company upgraded Scana Corporation (SCG) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $44 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) upgraded Shutterfly (SFLY) from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating. They now have a price target of $70 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded Valley National Bancorp (VLY) from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) upgraded ABB Ltd (ABB) to an “outperform” rating.

Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $70 on the company.

Analyst Upgrades for (RES) (RIG) (ROC) (SCG) (SD)

RPC, Inc (NYSE: RES), Transocean (NYSE: RIG), Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ROC), Scana Corporation (NYSE: SCG) and SandRidge Energy Inc. (NYSE: SD) received upgrades from analysts today.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upgraded RPC, Inc (RES) from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating. They now have a price target of $28 on the company.

Duncan Williams upgraded Transocean (RIG) from a “reduce” rating to a “strong buy” rating. They have a price target of $93 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (ROC). They have a price target of $55 on the company, up from $47.

Benchmark Co. upgraded Scana Corporation (SCG) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $44 on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst.

Global Hunter Securities upgraded SandRidge Energy Inc. (SD) from a “reduce” rating to a “neutral” rating. They have a price target of $11.15 on the company, up from $6.75.