MORNING COFFEE

Apple Starts Ipad Mini Production. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple (AAPL) has begun production of the iPad mini. The new device will have a 7.85" screen.  The current iPad has a 9.7" screen and Goggle’s (GOOG) Nexus has a 7” screen. Reports say that AU Optronics (AUO) and LG Display started production for the new screen last month. (AAPL) Pre-market: 663.75 +2.44 (0.37%), (GOOG) Pre-market: 758.45 +1.46 (0.19%), (AUO) Pre-market: 3.61 +0.01 (0.28%)

Earning Reports

Family Dollar (FDO): Reported EPS of $0.75 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 68.00 +2.00 (3.03%)

Monsanto (MON): Reported EPS of $0.44 missing estimates by -$0.01. Pre-market: 88.16 -2.78 (-3.06%)

Upgrades

Norfolk Southern (NSC): Bernstein raised their rating from Underperform to Market Perform. Pre-market: 65.50 +0.48 (0.74%)

American Axle & Manufacturing (AXE): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $13.00 to $16.00.

Downgrades

Waddell & Reed (WDR): Stifel Nicolaus lowered their rating from Buy to Hold.

Discover Financial Services (DFS): Argus lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 39.20 -0.29 (-0.73%)

Mosaic (MOS): Lazard Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 55.45 -0.31 (-0.56%)

Potash (POT): Lazard Capital lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 42.01 -0.62 (-1.45%)

Texas Instruments (TXN): Pacific Crest lowered their rating from Outperform to Sector Perform and placed a target price of $23.00 on the company. Pre-market: 27.36 -0.25 (-0.91%)

Coverage Initiated

Kraft Food Group (KRFT): CLSA initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $50.00.

Titanium Metals (TIE): Longbow initiated coverage with a Neutral rating. Pre-market: 12.80 0.00 (0.00%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:28: Dow -0.01%. S&P -0.02%. Nasdaq +0.08%. Crude -0.67% to $91.26. Gold +0.35% to $1781.90.

Europe: London +0.14%. Paris -0.22%. Frankfurt +0.09%. 

Asia: Japan -0.45%. Hong Kong +0.23%. China closed. India +0.24%.