Overseas Business Activity Slows

Overseas Business Activity Slows. Business activities in both China and the Eurozone are continuing to slow. For the fifth straight month in China, the flash manufacturing PMI fell to 48.1 in March from 48.5 in February and missing economist estimates of 48.7. In the Eurozone the flash composite PMI fell to 53.2 from 53.3 in February but topped economist consensus of 52.6. The latest PMI survey signals a 0.5% increase in Q1 GDP after growth of 0.3% in Q4.

Upgrades:

Boston Scientific (BSX): Bernstein raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $12.00 to $15.00. Pre-market: 13.07 +0.25 (1.95%)

Ensco PLC (ESV): ResearchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Ross Stores (ROST): RBC Capital raised their rating from Sector Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $79.00 to $81.00. Pre-market: 74.40 +1.43 (1.96%)

United Continental Holdings (UAL): Raymond James raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $52.00 on the company. Pre-market: 45.02 +0.69 (1.56%)

US Bancorp (USB): Atlantic Equities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 43.08 +0.06 (0.14%)

VMware (VMW): Sterne Agee raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 110.33 +1.12 (1.03%)

Wells Fargo (WFC): Atlantic Equities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 49.50 +0.38 (0.77%)

Yelp (YELP): JMP Securities raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and placed a target price of $113.00 on the company. Pre-market: 86.00 +2.57 (3.08%)

Downgrades:

Abbott (ABT): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

AFLAC (AFL): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Bank of America (BAC): Alantic Equities lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $20.00 to $18.50. Pre-market: 45.02 +0.69 (1.56%)

National Oilwell (NOV): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce. Pre-market: 74.58 +0.11 (0.15%)

Nike (NKE): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce. Pre-market: 75.49 +0.28 (0.37%)

Tiffany & Co. (TIF): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Conviction Buy to Buy and lowered their target price from $101.00 to $100.00. Pre-market: 89.11 -1.62 (-1.79%)

Coverage Initiated:

T-Mobile (TMUS): Evercore initiated coverage with an Equal Weight rating and target price of $34.00.

Markets: 
Futures at 8:34: Dow +0.20%. S&P +0.26%. Nasdaq +0.31%. Crude +0.52% to $99.98. Gold -0.97% to $1323.10. U.S. 10 Year -6/32 to 2.768%.

Europe: London -0.13%. Paris -0.20%. Frankfurt -0.23%. 

Asia: Japan +1.77% to 14475.3. Hong Kong +1.91% to 21846. China +0.91% to 2066. India +1.38% to 22055. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #Stocks #FinancialPlanner #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports

Armed Russian Soldiers Take Over Ukrainian Airports

Armed Russian Soldiers Take Over Ukrainian Airports. In an escalation of events in Ukraine, Russian soldiers have taken over two airports in Crimea.  This comes after armed soldiers stormed government building yesterday and removed the Ukrainian flag while replacing it with the Russian flag. Ukraine's acting interior minister said that the actions by Russia are an "armed invasion and occupation." The heavily armed soldiers equipped with AK47’s, machineguns, and RPG’s are wearing Russian uniformed with all markings removed. The Russian government is not commenting on any troop movements in Ukraine. Ukraine’s interim government has called for emergency U.N. meetings to address the situation. Additionally, Ukraine's central bank has limited foreign-currency bank withdrawals to 15,000 hryvnia ($1,500) a day.

Upgrades:

Deckers Outdoor (DECK): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $78.00 to $87.00. Pre-market: 74.47 -10.20 (-12.05%)

Dynergy (DYN): ISI Group raised their rating from Cautious to Neutral and placed a target price of $24.00 on the company.

Gap (GPS): Atlantic Equities raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral. Pre-market: 43.62 -0.06 (-0.14%)

Total S.A. (TOT): UBS raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 64.48 +0.94 (1.48%)

Downgrades:

Diego PLC (DEO): RBC Capital lowered their rating from Sector Perform to Underperform. Pre-market: 126.22 +0.92 (0.73%)

Fresh Market (TFM): Raymond James Lowered their rating from Strong Buy to Outperform.

Mylan (MYL): Needham lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 55.80 -0.47 (-0.84%)

NII Holdings (NIHD): Raymond James lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform. Pre-market: 1.33 -1.25 (-48.35%)

Earning Reports:

Gap (GPS): Reported EPS of $0.68 beating estimates by +$0.02. Pre-market: 43.62 -0.06 (-0.14%)

Iron Mountain (IRM): Reported EPS of $0.22 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 28.89 +0.48 (1.69%)

NII Holdings (NIHD): Reported EPS of -4.33 missing estimates by -$2.48. Pre-market: 1.33 -1.25 (-48.35%)

Ross Stores (ROST): Reported EPS of $1.02 in-line with estimates.

Salesforce.com (CRM): Reported EPS of $0.07 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 66.00 -0.22 (-0.33%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:26: Dow -0.04%. S&P -0.07%. Nasdaq -0.07%. Crude -0.21% to $102.19. Gold +0.07% to $1332.70. U.S. 10 Year -7/32 to 2.666%.

Europe: London -0.14%. Paris -0.22%. Frankfurt +0.13%. 

Asia: Japan -0.55% to 14841. Hong Kong +0.04% at 22837. China +0.44% to 2056. India +0.63% to 21120. 

#TopWealthManager #RLPaler #WallStreet #Ukraine #FinancialPlanning #AnalystsRatings #EarningReports

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Obamacare Sticker Shock. According to new government data the average cost of a mid-tier “Silver” health-insurance plan under Obamacare will be $328 a month. The Silver plan is the second to the lowest costing plan. The cost does not include the $2,000 deductible or the insurance co-pays. The three states with the highest uninsured population includes California where the average plan will cost $373, Florida where a plan will cost $328 and Texas where the silver plan will cost $305 a month. Recent data also shows that younger people who generally are healthy thereby using less medical services will be stuck with the bill, by subsidizing the elderly. People will be able to purchase insurance from the exchanges starting on October 1. , Insurers that intend to sell plans on exchanges include Aetna (AET), Humana (HUM), Molina Healthcare (MOH), UnitedHealth (UNH) and WellPoint (WLP).

Upgrades:

Diamond Offshore (DO): Guggenheim raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $73.00 to $80.00. Pre-market: 62.85 +0.72 (1.16%)

Duke Energy (DUK): Argus raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $79.00 on the company. Pre-market: 68.08 +0.39 (0.58%)

Infosys (INFY): RW Baird raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and raised their target price from $46.00 to $58.00. Pre-market: 49.10 +0.49 (1.01%)

KB Home (KBH): ISI Group raised their rating from Cautious to Neutral. Pre-market: 17.97 +0.21 (1.18%)

Ross Stores (ROST): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Buy to Conviction Buy and placed a target price of $83.00 on the company.

Downgrades:

Dollar Tree (DLTR): Goldman Sachs lowered their rating from Conviction Buy to Buy and placed a target price of $61.00 on the company.

ENSCO PLC (ESV): Guggenheim lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $63.00 to $58.00. Pre-market: 54.36 -0.36 (-0.66%)

Skyworks Solutions (SWKS): B. Riley lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 25.72 -0.11 (-0.43%)

Coverage Initiated:

Cirrus Logic (CRUS): Northland Securities initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $26.00. Pre-market: 23.76 +0.16 (0.68%)

DTE Energy (DTE): Wells Fargo initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target range of $70.00 - $71.00.

Facebook (FB): Canaccord initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $60.00. Pre-market: 49.23 +0.78 (1.61%)

Earning Reports:

AutoZone (AZO): Reported EPS of $10.42 beating estimates by +$0.09. Pre-market: 416.00 +1.69 (0.41%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:46: Dow +0.02%. S&P +0.01%. Nasdaq +0.12%. Crude +0.75% to $103.90. Gold +0.16% to $1319.10. U.S 10 Year -0/32 2.660%

Europe: London -0.24%. Paris -0.16%. Frankfurt -0.02%. 

Asia: Japan -0.76% to 14621. Hong Kong +0.13% to 23210. China -0.41% to 2199. India -0.32% to 19856. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Bonds Continue to See Massive Outflows. According to a report from TrimTabs outflows from U.S. bond mutual funds and ETFs have risen to $19.7B so far in August. So far this month’s number is the fourth-highest outflow on record and up from $14.8B in July. Since the beginning of June, $103.5B or 2.7% of the total assets invested in bond funds have left the asset class. The mass exodus can be directly tired to fears of the Fed ending its stimulus program which has sent yields higher. This morning the U.S. 10 Year stands at 2.843% its highest yield in over two years. U.S. 10 Year -4/32 2.843%

Upgrades:

American Midstream Partners (AMID): Wells Fargo raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target range from $19.00-$21.00 to $23.00-$25.00.

Dollar General (DG): JPMorgan raised their rating from Neutral to Overweight and raised their target price from $51.00 to $64.00.

Intel (INTC): Piper Jaffray raised their rating from Underweight to Neutral and raised their target price from $20.00 to $22.00. Pre-market: 22.03 +0.11 (0.52%)

Kaiser Aluminum (KALU): Sterne Agee raised their rating from Neutral to Buy.

Orbital Sciences (ORB): ReserchTeam raised their rating from Reduce to Hold.

Public Storage (PSA): RBC Capital raised their rating from Underperform to Sector Perform and raised their target price from $158.00 to $160.00.

Pulte Group (PHM): Wells Fargo raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target range from $15.50-$16.50 to $19.00-$20.00. Pre-market: 16.49 +0.21 (1.29%)

Ross Stores (ROST): Morgan Stanley raised their rating from Equal Weight to Overweight and placed a target price of $77.00 on the company. Pre-market: 66.00 +1.24 (1.91%)

Downgrades:

Abbott (ABT): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Foot Locker (FL): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

TRW Automotive (TRW): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Accumulate to Hold.

Union Pacific (UNP): ResearchTeam lowered their rating from Hold to Reduce.

Coverage Initiated:

Lumber Liquidators (LL): Jefferies initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $115.00.

Earning Reports:

Saks (SKS): Reported EPS of -0.10 missing estimates by -$0.02. Pre-market: 16.00 -0.02 (-0.12%)

Markets:

Futures at 7:28: Dow -0.03%. S&P -0.08%. Nasdaq +0.04%. Crude -0.10% to $107.06. Gold +0.08% to $1372.20. U.S. 10 Year -4/32 2.843%

Europe: London -0.45%. Paris -0.87%. Frankfurt -0.30%. 

Asia: Japan +0.79% to 13758. Hong Kong -0.24% to 22464. China +0.83% to 2086. India -1.56% to 18266.