Japan may cut crude oil imports from Iran by 20%. (Reuters)

Poor results cause shares of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) to drop sharply. (Reuters)

The yen hits a seven-month low compared to the dollar. (Reuters)

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon,com (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and others in the smartphone app download business sign a deal to protect customer privacy. (Reuters)

MF Global pressed to move cash just days before its collapse. (WSJ)

Google agrees to put a “no track” option in its browser to protect user privacy. (WSJ)

A new report shows that China must cut back the power of state-owned businesses or face economic problems. (WSJ)

The SEC may set provisions to regulate high-frequency traders. (WSJ)

Deutsche Telekom says results will be hurt by a poor economy and losses of customers in the U.S. (WSJ)

Global factors push up gas prices despite U.S. consumption at an 11-year low. (WSJ)

A judge says BP (NYSE: BP) and Anadarko (NYSE: APC) can face civil suits under the Clean Water Act. (WSJ)

State attorneys general attack Google’s privacy policy. (WSJ)

G20 nations plan to press European nations to increase bailout funds. (WSJ)

Fuller Brush files for Chapter 11. (WSJ)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) tells EU regulators that Google and Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI) are using patents to try to control the smartphone industry. (WSJ)

Google applies to provide Kansas City, Mo., with video service, which would allow it to compete with cable. (WSJ)

The FDA says 14 Chinese companies have supplied tainted material for the manufacture of blood thinner Heparin. (WSJ)

Air leasing company AerCap (NYSE: AER) says the market is flooded with too many planes from Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Airbus. (WSJ)

T-Mobile objects to a Verizon (NYSE: VZ) plan to spend $3.9 billion for cable TV air wave spectrum. (WSJ)

The White House will suggest rules for online privacy. (NYT)

Germany does not want to add to the 500 billion euro European Stability Mechanism. (FT)

U.S. prime money funds increase their exposure to eurozone paper. (FT)

Oil prices rise to a record high in sterling terms. (FT)

Germany business confidence hits a seven-month high in February. (Bloomberg)

A joint venture of General Motors (NYSE: GM) and PSA Peugeot Citroën in Europe will not solve the problem that each loses money. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre

AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) Started as Outperform with $16 target at Credit Suisse.
AirCastle LTD (NYSE: AYR) Started as Neutral with $14 target at Credit Suisse.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) Raised to BUy at S&P Equity Research (late Thursday).
BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) Started as Hold at Citigroup.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) Raised to Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
Cree Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) Cut to Market Perform at JMP.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) Cut to Neutral at UBS; Cut to Neutral at Baird.
JDS Uniphase Corporation (NASDAQ: JDSU) Maintained Buy but cut target to $17 at Argus.
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
Logitech International (NASDAQ: LOGI) Cut to Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) Raised to Equal-Weight at Barclays.
Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) Raised to Hold from Underperform at Jefferies.
Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) Maintained Hold at Argus.
Sina Corporation (NASDAQ: SINA) Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Suncor Energy INc. (NYSE: SU) Raised to Buy at BofA/ML.
Tesoro Corporation (NYSE: TSO) Maintained Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Verisk Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSK) Raised to Outperform at KBW.

You are invited to join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, dividend trends, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

Much of the strength in the cancer stock sector is due to moves by Dendreon (DNDN), Cell Genesys (CEGE), and Geron (GERN).Home furnishing stocks are being pushed higher by shares in Pier 1 (PIR) and Williams Sonomo (WSM), both of which are down over 50% year-to-date.

Among the aircraft leasing stocks the price advance leaders are Aercap (AER) and Aircastle (AYR).

The weakest sector over the last week in the Tickerspy survey is exchange stocks, down mostly due to weakness in CME group (CME).

Data from Tickerspy.

Douglas A. McIntyre

• AerCap (AER) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
• Agrium (AGU) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
• CF Industries (CF) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
• Granite Construction (GVA) Raised to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
• Multi-Fineline Electronix (MFLX) Raised to Buy at Needham.
• Omrix Biopharma (OMRI) Raised to Buy at UBS.
• Philip Morris International (PM) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
• Principal Financial (PFG) Raised to Market Perform at FBR.
• Terra Industries (TRA) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.

Jon C. Ogg
November 3, 2008

• AerCap (AER) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
• Amerigroup (AGP) Started as Neutral at B of A.
• Lehman (LEH) estimates cut at Citigroup.
• Novo Nordisk (NVO) Started as Neutral at UBS.
• Salesforce.com (CRM) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Synopsys (SNPS) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.

Jon C. Ogg
August 21, 2008