Government Wants BofA Fined Again.

Government Wants BofA Fined Again. The U.S. government is seeking to fine of Bank of America (BAC) again. This comes after a long list of resent fines, with the most recent for discrimination against black employees. The government is looking to fine the troubled bank the maximum $864 million that is allowed for their Countrywide loan program called. "Hustle." The program was designed to accelerate the creation and sale of loans to Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC).

Upgrades:

Best Buy (BBY): UBS raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $45.00 to $49.00. Pre-market: 43.15 +0.74 (1.74%)

ExxonMobil (XOM): Argus raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $104.00 on the company. Pre-market: 92.86 +0.13 (0.14%)

INVESCO Ltd. (IVZ): Wells Fargo raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target range from $33-$37 to $38-$42.

TD Ameritrade (AMTD): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $33.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

Deutsche Telekom (DTEGY): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Neutral to Sell.

Tata Motors (TTM): Nomura lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 29.88 -0.89 (-2.89%)

Coverage Initiated:

Chico’s FAS (CHS): Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $17.00.

Express (EXPR): Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $28.00.

Movado (MOV): KeyBanc initiated coverage with a Hold rating.

Twitter (TWTR): Sterne Agee initiated coverage with a Neutral rating. Pre-market: 40.84 -0.81 (-1.94%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:20: Dow +0.10%. S&P +0.10%. Nasdaq +0.07%. Crude -0.22% to $94.37. Gold -0.12% to $1283.00. U.S. 10 Year +2/32 2.747%

Europe: London +0.29%. Paris +0.48%. Frankfurt +0.18%. 

Asia: Japan +1.30% to 14270. Hong Kong +1.43% to 23070. China +0.16% to 2109. India -0.85% to 20491. 

#RLPaler #WallStreet  #WealthManagement #EarningReports #AnalystsRatings #BankofAmerica #Discrimination #WorstBank

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Syria Causes World Markets to Fall. U.S. stock futures, Asia and European markets are all lower on worries that the U.S. will take military action against Syria. This comes after Sec. of State John Kerry said yesterday that Syria did use chemical weapons against its own civilian population. The U.S. military has moved both equipment and personnel into the area and now has four destroyer ships in the Mediterranean along with several nuclear-powered submarines, all within cruise-missile range. The thought of a U.S. military response has also sent the Turkish lira to a record low of 2.0299 to the dollar and oil up+2.36% to $108.38 a barrel.

Upgrades:

Gulfport Energy (GPOR): Capital One raised their rating from Add to Strong Buy and raised their target price from $79.00 to $85.00. Pre-market: 57.72 +0.12 (0.21%)

Monsanto (MON): UBS raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and maintained their target price of $110.00. Pre-market: 98.02 +0.37 (0.38%)

Downgrades:

Apache Corp (APA): Guggenheim lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 78.50 -1.23 (-1.54%)

Coverage Initiated:

Athlon Energy (ATHL): Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and placed a target price of $33.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target range of $33.00-$36.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): UBS initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and placed a target price of $31.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

Athlon Energy (ATHL): RBC Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target price of $37.00 on the company. Pre-market: 30.00 0.00 (0.00%)

DirecTV (DTV): Raymond James initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and placed a target price of $69.00 on the company. Pre-market: 57.34 -0.15 (-0.26%)

DISH Network (DISH): Raymond James initiated coverage with an Underperform rating.

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an Outperform.

Earning Reports:

Bank of Montreal (BMO): Reported EPS of $1.68 beating estimates by +$0.14.

Brown Shoe (BWS): Reported EPS of $0.33 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 24.75 +1.05 (4.43%)

Movado Group (MOV): Reported EPS of $0.44 beating estimates by +$0.12. Pre-market: 39.97 +1.97 (5.18%)

Regis (RGS): Reported EPS of $0.06 missing estimates by -$0.06.

Tiffany & Co (TIF): Reported EPS of $0.83 beating estimates by +$0.11. Pre-market: 82.25 +0.58 (0.71%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:01: Dow -0.56%. S&P -0.75%. Nasdaq -0.77%. Crude +2.36% to $108.38. Gold +1.76% to $1417.70. U.S. 10 Year +9/32 2.759%

Europe: London -0.75%. Paris -1.83%. Frankfurt -1.89%. 

Asia: Japan -0.69% to 13542. Hong Kong -0.59% to 21875. China +0.34% to 2104. India -3.18% to 17968. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Shineway in Talks with Smithfield Foods. China based Shineway has been reported to be in talks with Smithfield Foods (SFD) to purchase the company in a deal worth $4.5-5 billion. The acquisition if completed would represent a 25-30% premium over Smithfield's close yesterday of $25.97. Pre-market: 32.34 +6.37 (24.53%)

Upgrades

Analog Devices (ADI): Citigroup raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $48.00 to $54.00. Pre-market: 45.60 +0.12 (0.26%)

Microchip Tech (MCHP): Citigroup raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $39.00 to $47.00.

Peugot SA (PEUGY): HSBC Securities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral.

Downgrades

Brocade (BRCD): Morgan Stanley lowered their rating from Equal Weight to Underweight and placed a target price of $4.50 on the company. Pre-market: 5.25 -0.13 (-2.42%)

Comerica (CMA): Wunderlich lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and placed a target price of $40.00 on the company.

Coverage Initiated

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC): BTIG initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $18.00.

SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS): Lazard Capital initiated coverage with a Neutral rating. Pre-market: 37.00 -0.71 (-1.88%)

SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS): Macquarie initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $44.00. Pre-market: 37.00 -0.71 (-1.88%)

SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS): KeyBank initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $45.00. Pre-market: 37.00 -0.71 (-1.88%)

SeaWorld Entertainment (SEAS): JPMorgan initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $41.00. Pre-market: 37.00 -0.71 (-1.88%)

Earning Reports

Bank of Montreal (BMO): Reported EPS of $1.46 missing estimates by -$0.04. Pre-market: 60.70 -0.51 (-0.83%)

Brown Shoes (BWS): Reported EPS of $0.32 beating estimates by +$0.10.

Chico's FAS (CHS): Reported EPS of $0.32 missing estimates by -$0.04. Pre-market: 18.18 -1.16 (-6.00%)

Movado Group (MOV): Reported EPS of $0.28 beating estimates by +$0.06.

Trina Solar (TSL): Reported EPS of -$0.90 missing estimates by -$0.16.

Wet Seal (WTSL): Reported EPS of $0.03 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 4.66 +0.16 (3.56%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:30: Dow -0.39%. S&P -0.54%. Nasdaq -0.45%. Crude -0.69% to $94.35. Gold +0.66% to $1388.10.

Europe: London -1.47%. Paris -1.22%. Frankfurt -1.42%. 

Asia: Japan +0.10% to 14326. Hong Kong -1.61% to 22555. China +0.12% to 2324. India -0.07% to 20148.