Thomson Reuters (TRI) (PRE) (GNK) (HP) (CNP) (NAT) Downgraded

Thomson Reuters Co. (NYSE: TRI), PartnerRe (NYSE: PRE), Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (NYSE: GNK), Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP), CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) and Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NYSE: NAT) downgraded by analysts.

Thomson Reuters Co. (TRI) was downgraded by RBC Capital from an “Outperform” rating to a “Sector Perform” rating. They have a price target of $42.00 on the company, down from $46.00.

PartnerRe (PRE) was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) from an “Overweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $76.00 on the company.

Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (GNK) was downgraded by Cantor Fitzgerald from a “Hold” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Helmerich & Payne (HP) was downgraded by Duncan Williams from a “Buy” rating to a “Reduce” rating. They have a price target of $72.00 on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) was downgraded by Argus from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NAT) was downgraded by Cantor Fitzgerald from a “Hold” rating to a “Sell” rating. They have a price target of $16.00 on the company.

Coach (COH) (AF) (NTCT) (EGLE) (GNK) Downgraded

Coach (NYSE: COH), Astoria Financial Co. (NYSE: AF), NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT), Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc (NASDAQ: EGLE) and Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (NYSE: GNK) downgraded by analysts.

Astoria Financial (AF) was downgraded by Raymond James from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Coach (COH) was downgraded by Cowen from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Diana Shipping (DSX) was downgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

Eagle Bulk Shipping (EGLE) was downgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (GNK) was downgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT) was downgraded by Wedbush from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $18.00 on the company, down from $21.00.

Price Targets on (GA) (GNK) (JWN) (MPWR) (NVDA) Updated

Price targets on shares of Giant Interactive Group (NYSE: GA), Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (NYSE:GNK), Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), Monolithic Power Systems Inc (NASDAQ: MPWR) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) were updated by analysts.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) raised their price target on Giant Interactive Group (GA) from $10.00 to $11.00.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) cut their price target on Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (GNK) from $8.00 to $7.50. They have a “sell” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray raised their price target on Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN) from $53.00 to $60.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) raised their price target on Monolithic Power Systems Inc (MPWR) from $18.50 to $22.50. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Citigroup cut their price target on NVIDIA (NVDA) from $27.00 to $22.00. They have a “hold” rating on the company.

Ratings on (GNK) (ICE) (IN) (MDAS) (MET) Reiterated by Analysts

Ratings on Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (NYSE: GNK), IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE: ICE), Intermec Inc. (NYSE: IN), MedAssets, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDAS) and MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) were reiterated by analysts today.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated a “hold” rating on Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd (GNK). They have a price target of $8.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated a “hold” rating on IntercontinentalExchange (ICE). They have a price target of $130.00 on the company.

Morgan Keegan reiterated an “outperform” rating on Intermec Inc. (IN). They have a price target of $13.50 on the company.

Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating on MedAssets, Inc. (MDAS). They have a price target of $21.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated an “outperform” rating on MetLife, Inc. (MET). They have a price target $51.00 on the company.

Rio Tinto (RIO), Vale (VALE), Teck Resources (TCK), BHP (BHP) Battered as Commodity Futures Drop

Equities linked to commodities took a big hit, as Rio Tinto (RIO), Vale (VALE), Teck Resources (TCK) and BHP (BHP) all ended down on Tuesday.

BHP Billiton did better than its competitors, as the company announced a deal to acquire the Arkansas shale-gas assets of Chesapeake Energy (CHK) for close to $4.75 billion.

The selloff had an impact the shares of almost every company that plays in natural resources, from steelmakers to miners of industrial metals to chemicals producers to agricultural companies to the shipping concerns that transport those raw materials across the waters.

The drop in cyclical names came on the heels of a huge decline in the broader equities market Thursday, with the DJIA posting triple-digit losses as investors reacted to the prospect of a continually destabilizing Middle East and what that would do to oil prices.

Commodities futures led the tumble into the red. The front-month copper contract was falling nearly 17 cents to $4.32 a pound on the Globex division of the CME, declining from a record high of $4.66.

Agricultural commodities were also plunging. In Chicago trading, the May corn futures contract was losing 30 cents to fall below $7 a bushel.

The several reasons for the commodity declines. First, a growing number of traders believe the run-up in commodities prices has resulted a priced-to-perfection environment in basic materials stocks.

Recent concerns over the contagious Middle Eastern political unrest reached the first major oil producing nation in Libya this weekend, driving crude prices up.

Energy prices are connected with food prices, and inflation in both sectors has raised the possibility of central banks around the world putting inflation-cutting measures in place on their economies, which would slow growth.

The greatest uncertainty remains the Federal Reserve's zero-interest rate policy and quantitative-easing programs, and what the consequences to the economy, and commodities markets will be, once that rug is pulled out from under them.

The supply side of the commodities sector continues to look bullish, with the macro-trends still in place: food stocks are tight, and metals production still faces challenges.

It's demand that investors seem to be concerned about now, and the level to which any interest-rate tightening by monetary authorities around the world impacts international growth.

Steelmakers, already under pressure, probably fared the worst. ArcelorMittal's (MT) plummeted 5.3%, U.S. Steel (X) almost 7%, and AK Steel (AKS) 7.5%.

Fertilizer giants Potash (POT), CF Industries (CF) and Mosaic (MOS) were hit hard as well, falling 6.3%, 4% and 3.7%, respectively.

Dry-bulk shipping firms were also getting blasted. Diana Shipping(DSX) dropped close to 5%. DryShips (DRYS) was falling by a about the same, while Genco Shipping & Trading (GNK) plunged 7%.

Genco (GNK), Teekay (TK), Frontline (FRO) Overseas Shipholding (OSG) up 1.9% Soar on Iranian Warship News

Shares of a number ship transportation companies closed higher Wednesday on the news Iranian warships had been spotted moving through the Suez Canal. Frontline Ltd. (NYSE:FRO), Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (NYSE:GNK), Teekay Corp. (NYSE:TK) and Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE:OSG) all ended the session in positive territory.

The warships appeared to be heading toward Syrian waters.

Also helping the shipping companies rise was an increase in crude prices during the day.

Overseas Shipholding Group closed Wednesday at $34.87, gaining $0.79, or 2.32 percent. Frontline Ltd. closed at $27.08, up $0.58, or 2.19 percent. Teekay Corp. ended the session at $35.75, rising $0.74, or 2.11 percent. Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. closed the day at $12.79, up $0.40. or 3.23 percent.