Stronger Opening For Stocks
Stocks appear set to open mixed to
higher Friday.
Merrill Lynch upgraded Microsoft
(
MSFT |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
from Market Perform to Near Term Buy, citing that money flow into the sector will
benefit Mr. Softie.
Acquila
(
ILA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) said that it will
lower guidance for Q1 to 32 cents a share compared with analysts’ consensus of 61
cents a share. The wholesaler of electricity and natural gas said the cause of
the shortfall is due to lower prices and volatility.
Boeing
(
BA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) won a $4.5 billion deal
to provide South Korea with 40 F-15K jet fighters.
UBS Warburg downgraded Honeywell
International
(
HON |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) from Buy to Hold citing increased risk of earnings
disappointment.
Colgate Palmolive
(
CL |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) was upgraded
by UBS Warburg from Buy to Strong Buy after the company fell 7% in yesterday’s
session.
Both Credit Suisse First Boston and
Merrill Lynch downgraded Qwest Communications
(
Q |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) this morning. CSFB lowered
its rating on the company from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target on the
company from $13 to $7.50 after the company lowered FY02 guidance after
yesterday’s close. Merrill lowered their rating on the company from Buy to Long
Term Neutral.
Goldman Sachs upgraded Pacficare
Health
(
PHSY |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) from Market Perform to Market Outperform after the company
secured an extension in refinancing.
Prudential Securities cut its price
target on Nvidia Corp
(
NVDA |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) from $75 to $62 after Microsoft cut X-Box
guidance.
Bear Stearns downgraded Steel Dynamics
(
STLD |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) from Buy to Neutral.
McDonald’s
(
MCD |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating) was upgraded by
Bear Stearns from Neutral to Buy after the fast food giant beat analysts’
expectations for Q1.
SG Cowen upgraded Amgen
(
AMGN |
Quote |
Chart |
News |
PowerRating)
from Buy to Strong Buy based on the belief that the company’s Enbrel and Aranesp
will be key drivers for the company with regard to top and bottom lines growth
through 2005.