Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Fitch Warns of Possible U.S. Credit Rating Downgrade. Fitch announced that they have placed the United States AAA debt rating on rating “watch negative." The company could lower their rating even if the debt ceiling is raised, stating that "Although Fitch continues to believe that the debt ceiling will be raised soon, the political brinkmanship and reduced financing flexibility could increase the risk of a U.S. default." Standard & Poor's downgraded the rating to AA-plus with a stable outlook back in 2011. Moody's Investors Service rates U.S. government debt at Aaa with a stable outlook.

Upgrades:

Alaska Air Group (ALK): Imperial Capital raised their rating from In-Line to Outperform.

Intel (INTC): B. Riley raised their rating from Neutral to Buy.

Downgrades:

Brown & Brown (BRO): Stephens lowered their rating from Overweight to Equal Weight and lowered their target price from $38.00 to $35.00.

Cisco Systems (CSCO): MKM Partners lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $28.00 to $26.00.

Diamond Offshore (DO): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $70.00 to $64.00.

ENCSO (ESV): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $65.00 to $61.00.

FedEx (FDX): Buckingham lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and lowered their target price from $122.00 to $120.00.

INVESCO (IVZ): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral.

INVESCO (IVZ): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral and placed a target price of $33.00 on the company.

Noble Energy (NE): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $47.00 to $70.00.

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK): RW Baird lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral.

Transocean (RIG): BMO Capital lowered their rating from Market Perform to Underperform and lowered their target price from $54.00 to $43.00.

Coverage Initiated:

Allegheny Technology (ATI): Sterne Agee initiated coverage with an Underperform rating and target price of $27.00.

Smith & Wesson (SWHC): Lake Street Agee initiated coverage with Hold rating and target price of $12.00.

United States Steel (X): Credit Suisse initiated coverage with Neutral rating and target price of $19.00.

Earning Reports:

Abbott Labs (ABT): Reported EPS of $0.55 beating estimates by +$0.03.

Bank of America (BAC): Reported EPS of $0.20 beating estimates by +$0.01.

BlackRock (BLK): Reported EPS of $3.88 missing estimates by -$0.01.

BNY Mellon (BK): Reported EPS of $0.60 beating estimates by +$0.02.

Intel (INTC): Reported EPS of $0.58 beating estimates by +$0.05.

Mattel (MAT): Reported EPS of $1.16 beating estimates by +$0.04.

Northern Trust (NTRS): Reported EPS of $0.76 missing estimates by -$0.01.

PepsiCo (PEP): Reported EPS of $1.24 beating estimates by +$0.07.

PNC (PNC): Reported EPS of $1.69 beating estimates by +$0.07.

St Jude Medical (STJ): Reported EPS of $0.90 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Yahoo! (YHOO): Reported EPS of $0.34 beating estimates by +$0.01.

Markets: 
Futures at 6:20: Dow +0.4%. S&P +0.4%. Nasdaq +0.1%. Crude 0.0% at $101.18. Gold +0.4% to $1278.50. U.S. 10 Year -1/32 to 2.72%

Europe: London -0.6%. Paris -0.9%. Frankfurt -0.1%. 

Asia: Japan +0.2% to 14467. Hong Kong -0.5% to 23228. China -1.8% to 2193. India closed. 

#RLPaler

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Senate and House Set to Meet. The Senate and the House are due to hold sessions today even though its federal holiday; Congress was scheduled to be close in observance of Columbus Day. Over the weekend President Obama refused to negotiate with House Republicans and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) demanded that all previous spending cuts, known as sequester be added back into the budget.  U.S. Stock futures are lower this morning.

Upgrades:

Advance Micro Devices (AMD): Wedbush raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and raised their target price from $4.50 to $5.00. Pre-market: 3.86 +0.03 (0.78%)

Dunkin Brands (DNKN): Miller Tabak raised their rating from Hold to Buy and raised their target price from $46.00 to $53.00. Pre-market: 45.80 +0.12 (0.26%)

Hyatt Hotels (H): ISI Group raised their rating from Neutral to Buy.

Iron Mountain (IRM): RW Baird raised their rating from Neutral to Outperform and placed a target price of $34.00 on the company. Pre-market: 25.42 +0.12 (0.47%)

Downgrades:

Coach (COH): Canaccord lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $65.00 to $62.00. Pre-market: 53.80 -0.79 (-1.45%)

Expedia (EXPE): Deutsche Bank lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $66.00 to $51.00. Pre-market: 50.00 -1.73 (-3.34%)

Merck & Co (MRK): Bernstein lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform. Pre-market: 46.86 -0.43 (-0.91%)

SABMIller plc (SBMRY): Citigroup lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral.

Coverage Initiated:

Capital One Financial (COF): SunTrust initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $81.00. Pre-market: 71.77 -0.14 (-0.19%)

CIT Group (CIT): SunTrust initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and target price of $53.00.

Discover Financial (DFS): Deutsche Bank initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $62.00.

Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA): Oppenheimer initiated coverage with a Perform rating. Pre-market: 40.25 -0.79 (-1.92%)

Markets: 
Futures at 7:55: Dow -0.68%. S&P -0.78%. Nasdaq -0.40%. Crude -0.53% to $101.48. Gold +1.58% to $1288.50. U.S. 10 Year 0/32 2.692%.

Europe: London +0.07%. Paris -0.30%. Frankfurt -0.28%. 

Asia: Japan +1.48% to 14404, Hong Kong +1.16% to 23218. China +0.43% to 2238. India +1.26% to 20528. 

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Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

World Markets Rise On Debt Ceiling and Funding Hopes. World stock markets were mostly higher on hopes that Washington will come to an agreement to lift the debt ceiling. Although reports say any deal would be a short term deal. Additionally, there are reports that the debt ceiling deal could also include funding that would end the current government shutdown.

Upgrades:

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG): Janney Capital raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $525.00 on the company. Pre-market: 440.00 +4.13 (0.95%)

JB Hunt (JBHT): BofA Merrill Lynch raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and placed a target price of $81.00 on the company. Pre-market: 72.14 0.00 (0.00%)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Goldman Sachs raised their rating from Sell to Neutral and raised their target price from $87.00 to $95.00.

KB Homes (KBH): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $20.00 to $22.00. Pre-market: 17.09 +0.46 (2.77%)

Lennar (LEN): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and raised their target price from $34.00 to $41.00. Pre-market: 34.05 +0.25 (0.74%)

Safeway (SWY): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral.

Downgrades:

Corning (GLW): Piper Jaffray lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral and lowered their target price from $19.00 to $14.00.

Deutsche Bank (DB): Macquarie lowered their rating from Neutral to Underperform. Pre-market: 48.10 +0.25 (0.52%)

Eli Lilly (LLY): Jefferies lowered their rating from Hold to Underperform and lowered their target price from $49.00 to $40.00.

Intel (INTC): Macquarie lowered their rating from Outperform to Neutral and placed a target price of $22.00 on the company.

Merck (MRK): Jefferies lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $53.00 to $50.00.

NVIDIA (NVDA): Macquarie lowered their rating from Neutral to Underperform. Pre-market: 15.15 -0.24 (-1.53%)

Synaptics (SYNA): JPMorgan lowered their rating from Overweight to Neutral.

Coverage Initiated:

Blackstone Group (BX): Evercore initiated coverage with an Equal Weight rating and target price of $28.00.

Carlyle Group (CG): Evercore initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and target price of $36.00.

Dr. Pepper Snapple (DPS): Wells Fargo lowered their rating from Outperform to Market Perform and lowered their target range from $51.00-$53.00 to $44.00-46.00.

KKR & Co. (KKR): Evercore initiated coverage with an Equal Weight rating and target price of $23.00.

Earning Reports:

Infosys (INFY): Reported EPS of $45.96 missing estimates by -$0.24. Pre-market: 53.20 +2.92 (5.81%)

JPMorgan Chase (JPM): Reported EPS of $1.42 beating estimates by +$0.23. Pre-market: 53.00 +0.48 (0.91%)

Micron Technology (MU): Reported EPS of $0.20 missing estimates by -$0.10. Pre-market: 18.05 -0.38 (-2.06%)

Safeway (SWY): Reported EPS of $0.10 missing estimates by -$0.6. Pre-market: 33.69 +2.12 (6.72%)

Wells Fargo (WFC): Reported EPS of $0.99 beating estimates by +$0.03. Pre-market: 40.78 -0.66 (-1.59%)

Markets: 
Futures at 6:20: Dow +0.07%. S&P -0.05%. Nasdaq +0.06%. Crude -1.2% to $101.95. Gold -2.19% to $1277.10. U.S. 10 Year +7/32 2.657%

Europe: London +0.65%. Paris -0.12%. Frankfurt +0.22%. 

Asia: Japan +1.48% to 14405. Hong Kong +1.16% to 23218. China +1.70% to 2228. India +1.26% to 20529. 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

U.S. Govt. Shutdown, Who Cares? Markets worldwide were mostly higher despite the U.S. government’s partial shutdown.  The last partial shutdown was over 17 years ago and lasted almost a month. The closure comes after the House and Senate could not agree upon a budget to fund what many consider a blotted government. Most services will remain open despite the shutdown leading many to say who cares? The IRS, postal service, and military will remain open. Additionally, social security and welfare checks will also go out as scheduled. Government agencies that are considered non-essential, which are very few, will be closed and the employees furloughed. A full list can be found at http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/09/politics/government-shutdown-impact/

Upgrades:

AFLAC (AFL): FBR Capitol raised their rating from Market Perform to Outperform and raised their target price from $60.00 to $71.00. Pre-market: 61.99 0.00 (0.00%)

Airgas (ARG): Global Hunter raised their rating from Neutral to Buy and raised their target price from $107.00 to $130.00.

Cree (CREE): Canaccord raised their rating from Hold to Buy. Pre-market: 62.48 +2.29 (3.80%)

Nike (NKE): Argus raised their rating from Hold to Buy and placed a target price of $84.00 on the company. Pre-market: 73.25 +0.61 (0.84%)

T-Mobile (TMUS): Oppenheimer raised their rating from Perform to Outperform. Pre-market: 26.25 +0.28 (1.08%)

Under Armour (UA): JPMorgan raised their rating from Underweight to Buy. Pre-market: 79.45 0.00 (0.00%)

Downgrades:

Agilent Technologies(A): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and placed a target price of $52.00 on the company.

EOG Resources (EOG): Societe Generale lowered their rating from Hold to Sell and placed a target price of $160.00 on the company. Pre-market: 168.52 -0.76 (-0.45%)

Hess Corp (HES): Societe Generale lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and placed a target price of $86.00 on the company. Pre-market: 76.83 -0.51 (-0.66%)

JC Penney (JCP): Argus lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 8.83 +0.02 (0.28%)

Coverage Initiated:

Advisory Board (ABCO): Keybanc initiated coverage with a Buy rating and target price of $72.00.

News Corp (NWSA): Evercore initiated coverage with an Equal Weight rating and target price of $18.00. Pre-market: 16.06 0.00 (0.00%)

Earning Reports:

Diamond Foods (DMND): Reported EPS of $0.09 beating estimates by +$0.12. Pre-market: 21.95 -1.60 (-6.79%)

Paychex (PAYX): Reported EPS of $0.44 beating estimates by +$0.01. Pre-market: 40.64 0.00 (0.00%)

Walgreens (WAG): Reported EPS of $0.73 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 53.34 -0.46 (-0.86%)

Markets: 
Futures at 8:22: Dow +0.26%. S&P +0.27%. Nasdaq +0.26%. Crude -0.01% to $102.34. Gold -0.79% to $1317.20. U.S. 10 Year -10/32 2.646%.

Europe: London -0.45%. Paris +0.59%. Frankfurt +0.43%. 

Asia: Japan +0.20% to 14485. Hong Kong -1.50% to 22860, China closed. India +0.71% to 19517 

Morning Coffee Pre-Market Wall Street News

Nike Beats EPS Estimates. Nike (NKE) shares are 7% higher premarket after the company reported EPS that beat Wall Street estimates. The company reported FQ1 EPS of $0.86 beat estimates of $0.78. Profits at the company jumped 38% to $780M and revenue rose 8% to an expected $6.97B. Nike saw high demand in the U.S. and many international markets for its athletic products, except for China.  Global futures orders, a leading indicator for top line growth, rose 8%. Pre-market: 75.36 +5.02 (7.14%)

Upgrades:

Nike (NKE): Sterne Agee raised their rating from Neutral to Buy. Pre-market: 75.36 +5.02 (7.14%)

Occidental Petroleum (OXY): Susquehanna raised their rating from Neutral to Positive and placed a target price of $114.00 on the company. Pre-market: 93.57 -0.01 (-0.01%)

Downgrades:

Bank of America (BAC): Guggenheim lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 13.99 -0.09 (-0.64%)

Goldman Sachs (GS): Guggenheim lowered their rating from Buy to Neutral. Pre-market: 161.50 -0.79 (-0.49%)

International Game Technology (IGT): Deutsche Bank lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and placed a target price of $22.00 on the company. After Hours: 20.60 -0.07 (-0.34%)

International Paper (IP): Deutsche Bank lowered their rating from Buy to Hold and lowered their target price from $54.00 to $51.00. Pre-market: 46.50 -0.79 (-1.67%)

Marathon Oil (MRO): Stifel lowered their rating from Buy to Hold. Pre-market: 35.00 -0.28 (-0.79%)

Coverage Initiated:

Masco Corp (MAS): FBR Capital initiated coverage with a Market Perform rating and target price of $24.00.

Owens Corning (OC): FBR Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and target price of $50.00.

Earning Reports:

Accenture (ACN): Reported EPS of $1.01 missing estimates by -$0.01. After Hours: 72.90 -2.97 (-3.91%)

BlackBerry (BBRY): Reported EPS of -$0.47 in-line with estimates. Pre-market: 8.00 +0.05 (0.63%)

Finish Line (FINL): Reported EPS of $0.54 beating estimates by +$0.08. Pre-market: 25.00 +2.61 (11.66%)

Nike (NKE): Reported EPS of $0.86 beating estimates by +$0.08. Pre-market: 75.36 +5.02 (7.14%)

Thor Industries (THO): Reported EPS of $1.04 beating estimates by +$0.09.

Markets:

Futures at 6:20: Dow -0.31%. S&P -0.43%. Nasdaq -0.34%. Crude -0.57% to $102.49. Gold +0.14% at $1325.90. U.S. 10 Year +6/32 2.630%.

Europe:  London -0.82%. Paris -0.18%. Frankfurt -0.27%. 

Asia: Japan -0.26% to 14760. Hong Kong +0.35% to 23207. China +0.20% to 2160. India -0.84% to 19727.