The U.S. dollar index is trading up 0.14% today, now at 83.8540. The GSCI commodity index is up 0.5% at 635.02. WTI crude oil closed down 0.6%, at $96.16 a barrel. Brent crude trades down 0.9% at $103.90 a barrel. Natural gas is up 2.5% today at about $4.19 per million BTUs. Gold settled down 0.5% today at $1,377.60.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up about 52 points to 15,387.42 (0.34%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 6 points (0.16%) to 3,502.12, and the S&P 500 rose 0.17% or nearly 3 points to 1,669.16.

There were a several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including:

• Life Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: LIFE) cut to ‘underperform’ at CLSA;
• Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) cut to ‘neutral’ at Sterne Agee;
• Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) started as ‘buy’ at Jefferies;
• Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) reinstated as ‘buy’ at Goldman Sachs; and
• Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) started as ‘overweight’ at Piper Jaffray.

Earnings reports since markets closed last night have resulted in some price changes for reporting companies as of the last half hour of trading today:

• Kid Brands Inc. (NYSE: KID) is down 0.6% at $1.58;
• TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) is up 2.5% at $12.97;
• Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is down 3.7% at $25.83;
• Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS) is up 1.2% at $52.83 after posting a new 52-week high of $54.25 earlier today;
• The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) is up 2.8% at $78.89 after posting a new 52-week high of $79.47 earlier today;
• Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) is up 9.8% at $13.48 after posting a new 52-week high of $13.60 earlier today;
• TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) is up 0.8% at $51.76; and
• Vodafone plc (NASDAQ: VOD) is up 0.1% at $30.14.

Before markets open tomorrow morning we are scheduled to hear earnings from Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU), NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP), American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO), Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW), Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), and Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL).

Some standouts among heavily traded stocks today include:

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) is up 19.3% at $3.70 after posting a new 52-week high of $4.83 earlier today. The Chinese solar panel maker increased its first quarter shipment forecast, although year-over-year volume will still be lower.

Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ: CLWR) is up 4.9% at $3.42. The wireless carrier received a sweetened offer this morning from Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S).

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) is down 11.1% at $45.85. The solar energy installer is giving back some recent gains, as investors may have figured out that there is a limit to optimism.

Stay tuned for Wednesday. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will testify in front of a joint House/Senate committee and Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher is giving a speech. We have also noted the following events on the schedule (all times Eastern):

• 7:00 a.m. – Mortgage Bankers Association purchase applications
• 10:00 a.m. – Existing home sales
• 10:30 a.m. – EIA weekly petroleum status report
• 2:00 p.m. – FOMC minutes released

The U.S. dollar index is trading down 0.6% today, now at 83.7490. The GSCI commodity index is up 0.7% at 632.05. WTI crude oil closed up 0.7%, at $96.71 a barrel. Brent crude trades up 0.1% at $103.80 a barrel. Natural gas is up 0.9% today at about $4.09 per million BTUs. Gold settled up 1.4% today at $1,384.10.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down about 19 points to 15,335.28 (-0.12%), the NASDAQ fell more than 2 points (-0.07%) to 3,496.43, and the S&P 500 fell -0.07% or about 1 point to 1,666.29.

There were a several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including:

• Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) cut to ‘sell’ at Stifel Nicolaus;
• Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) cut to ‘sell’ at Deutsche Bank;
• J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) raised to ‘buy’ at Maxim Group;
• Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) raised to ‘buy’ at Goldman Sachs; and
• Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) raised to ‘equal weight’ at Barclays.

Earnings reports released since markets closed last Friday have resulted in some price changes for reporting companies as of the last half hour of trading today:

• Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) is down 3.9% at $45.78 and
• Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: QIHU) is up 6.6% at $43.77 after posting a new 52-week high of $45.11 earlier today.

Before markets open tomorrow morning we are scheduled to hear earnings from Kid Brands Inc. (NYSE: KID), TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY), Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS), The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD), Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS), TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX), and Vodafone plc (NASDAQ: VOD).

Some standouts among heavily traded stocks today include:

National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE: NBG) is down 34% at $1.58. The Greek bank’s shares gave back last week’s gains after announcing a 1-for-10 reverse split and an issuance of 2.27 billion new shares following the split..

Real Goods Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: RSOL) is up 68% at $6.77, after posting a new 52-week high of $7.17 earlier today. The solar PV installation company has mysteriously appeared on investors’ radar screens and shares have more than tripled in the last 2 trading days.

JA Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) is up 69% at $9.46 after posting a new 52-week high of $9.53 earlier today. The solar PV panel maker reported earnings this morning, and they were better than expected..

Stay tuned for Tuesday. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard and New York Fed President William Dudley are giving speeches. We have also noted the following event on the schedule (all times Eastern):

• 11:30 a.m. – 4-week bill auctions

In a new report, the team at UBS note that with unfavorable weather and high inventories in the first quarter of this year, they see little upside ahead for department store guidance. Without improving fundamentals, they also see little reason for price-to-earnings ratios to expand further relative to the market to justify a more positive stock outlook. While the fundamentals may not look that exciting for the department stores, the prospects for specialty retail and specialty retail products remains solid.

Here are the specialty retail stores and products stocks to buy at UBS.

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) still dominates specialty athletic apparel and footwear sales. With global market share that could grow to 6.5%, sales have never been stronger. The UBS price target for the stock is $68. The Thomson/First Call estimate is $64. Investors receive a 1.30% dividend.

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) is a retailer to buy at UBS. The company continued its expansion by buying German retailer Runners Point last week. The UBS target for the stock is $39, and the consensus is $40. Investors are paid a 2.20% dividend.

L Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) showed solid 2% comparable-store sales growth on Monday. The UBS target for the stock is $53. The consensus price target for the stock is also $53. Investors receive a 2.30% dividend.

Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) stock has been on fire. The company has continued to add popular merchandise to its vast portfolio of apparel and accessories. UBS has a target for the stock of $195. The consensus estimate is the same at $195. Investors receive a small 0.90% dividend.

TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) is one of two specialty discount retailers that makes the list of stock to buy. The UBS target price is $53, but the consensus is lower at $50. Shareholders are paid a 1.10% dividend.

Ross Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST) is another discount specialty retailer to buy. Ross Stores improved earnings per share by 25.9% in the most recent quarter, compared to the same quarter a year ago. UBS has a $75 target. The consensus is much lower at $68. Investors receive a 1.00% dividend.

V.F. Corp. (NYSE: VFC) is an apparel manufacturer with an impressive list of well-known names. In addition to the popular Lee Jeans brand, the company also designs and sells North Face, Timberland, Vans, Kipling, Napapijri, Reef, Eastpak, JanSport, SmartWool, Lucy and Eagle Creek brands, among others. The UBS target for this apparel giant is $191. The consensus is at $188. Investors are paid a 1.90% dividend.

ANN Inc. (NYSE: ANN) is a very popular destination for women shoppers. With a new Kate Hudson collection now available, sales have been strong. UBS has a $40 target for the stock. The consensus is lower at $35.

Express Inc. (NYSE: EXPR) wraps up the names to buy at UBS. Targeting men and women between 20 and 30, the company’s prudent customer-focused approach to merchandising sets it apart from its competitors. UBS has a $21 target, the same as the consensus estimate.

Clearly the economy will determine whether the retail sector continues to be a good buy for investors. If expected growth in the second half of the year does indeed materialize, then owning some of the UBS stocks to buy in the sector should prove to be a solid choice.

In general, April sales benefited from lower prices for gasoline, an extra shopping day, and generally better news on the U.S. economy. Late snow and cold temperatures in parts of the country, the payroll tax increase and the effects of the sequester acted as drags on sales.

Several retailers no longer report monthly same-store sales. These include Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO).

Here’s a rundown:

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) reported that same-store sales for April rose 4% compared with the same month in 2012. That is below the Retail Metrics estimate for a gain of 4.9%, excluding gasoline sales.

L Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) said same-store sales for April rose 2% compared with the same period last year and a Retail Metrics estimate for a rise of 4.8%. The company also said that it expects to report EPS for the first quarter of $0.46, which is higher than previous guidance of $0.40 to $0.45, but in line with the consensus estimate. L Brands noted that first-quarter earnings took a hit of $0.03 per share due to severance and a higher tax rate.

The Buckle Inc. (NYSE: BKE) reported same-store sales for April rose 6.2% compared with the same period a year ago. The Retail Metrics estimate called for a rise of 1.8%.

Stein Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: SMRT) yesterday reported an 8% jump in same-store sales for April, well above the 3% estimate from Retail Metrics.

PriceSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) reported same-store sales for April rose 10.7%, higher than the 10.2% rise estimated by Retail Metrics.

Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) posted a same-stores sales rise of 4.6% for April, better than the 4.1% increase expected by Retail Metrics.

The TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) reported same-store sales rose 8% in April. The Retail Metrics estimate called for a rise of 6.8%.

Costco shares are inactive in the pr-market, having closed last night at $109.61 in a 52-week range of $82.10 to $110.41.

Limited’s shares are down 1.8%, at $52.25 in a 52-week range of $40.32 to $53.33.

Stein Mart’s shares are inactive this morning, and closed last night at $10.90 in a 52-week range of $6.15 to $11.10.

PriceSmart’s shares are also inactive this morning, and closed last night at $88.52 in a 52-week range of $59.00 to $90.94.

Zumiez’s shares are inactive and closed at $30.41 last night in a 52-week range of $17.93 to $41.96.

The Buckle’s shares are trading up 1.4% at $50.31 in a 52-week range of $36.33 to $51.74.

TJX’s shares are inactive and closed at $50.40 last night in a 52-week range of $39.46 to $50.61.

American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.

Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: ANR) was cut to Sell from an already cautious Neutral rating at Goldman Sachs.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ: INCY) was resumed in coverage with a Sell rating at Goldman Sachs.

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) was started as Underperform at Wells Fargo.

T-Mobile USA Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) was initiated as Underperform at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.

TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo.

See also: Top Analyst Upgrades and Positive Calls This Tuesday

Deutsche Bank said that it is time to sell industrial stocks to rotate back into banks and technology.

In general, March comparable sales were hit by cold, snowy weather that put a crimp in sales of spring merchandise. Other factors contributing the low forecast and results were a later Easter holiday, weaker jobs data and federal budget cuts. Lower gasoline prices, tax refunds and record equity prices were among the positives for the month.

March 2013 is a five-week period for most retailers, ending at April 6 or 7.

Several retailers no longer report monthly same-store sales. These include Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO).

Here’s a rundown:

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) reported that same-store sales for March rose 4%, compared with the similar period in 2012. That is well below the Retail Metrics estimate for a gain of 5.6%, excluding gasoline sales.

Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) said same-store sales for March rose 3%, compared with the same period last year and a Retail Metrics estimate for a rise of 0.4%. The company, though still named Limited Brands, now wants to be known as “L Brands.”

The Buckle Inc. (NYSE: BKE) reported same-store sales for March were flat, compared with the same period a year ago. The Retail Metrics estimate called for a rise of 0.1%.

Stein Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: SMRT) reported same-store sales for March down 2.8%. Retail Metrics estimated a same-store sales decrease of 1.3%% for Stein Mart.

PriceSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) reported same-store sales for the four weeks ended March 31 rose 7.9%, below the 8.8% rise estimated by Retail Metrics.

Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) posted a same-stores sales rise of 2.1% for March, much better than the 8% decline expected by Retail Metrics.

The TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) reported same-store sales fell 2% in March. The Retail Metrics estimate called for a drop of 1.4%.

TJX’s shares are up 0.6% at $47.79 in a 52-week range of $39.38 to $48.20.

Limited’s shares are up 3.1%, at $49.68 in a 52-week range of $40.32 to $52.50.

Costco shares are up 0.2% at $105.92 in a 52-week range of $81.98 to $107.75.

Stein Mart’s shares are down 0.4% at $8.13 in a 52-week range of $6.02 to $9.34.

PriceSmart’s shares are down fractionally at $84.81 in a 52-week range of $59.00 to $86.00.

Zumiez’s shares are up 10.4% at $27.50 in a 52-week range of $17.93 to $41.96.

The Buckle’s shares are trading up 3% at $48.99 in a 52-week range of $36.33 to $51.74.

In a fresh research report, the equity strategists at UBS A.G. (NYSE: UBS) have dug even deeper to find additional stocks that will reap the rewards of the new spurt in housing. In November they predicted house price appreciation of 4% to 5% annually over the next three or four years. Such price appreciation combined with slow, but sure economic recovery, likely will lead to 12% annual growth in single-family housing starts over the same period. That kind of solid growth has an ancillary effect on a wide range of industries.

The team at UBS concede that if there is risk to their projections, it may very well be to the upside. With the housing market recovery now more widely accepted among investors, the challenge is to find companies that likely still have upside from additional gains in the housing market. They in turn put together a screening process to identify industries that will benefit from the housing recovery but are still attractively valued.

Here are the stocks on the UBS U.S. housing recovery list:

In today’s report the analysts add two new names to the list: mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO) and regional bank First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC). There is no Wall St. consensus price target for Two Harbors at this time. Investors should note the stock goes ex-dividend on March 28 for the quarterly distribution and a special stock dividend. The Thomson/First Call estimate for First Republic Bank is $39.50.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. (NYSE: AMP) makes the list. Its consensus estimate price target is $75.

Money center leader Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is another financial services firm expected to benefit from the growth. The consensus estimate is $51.

Cable giant Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is there to provide entertainment, Internet and phone service as the number of homes increases. The consensus price target is $47.

Automaker Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) is expected to benefit. The consensus target for the venerable car company is $15. Investors are paid a solid 3.00% dividend as well.

Providing mortgage insurance, Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) makes the UBS list, which is surprising considering the turnaround and woes it has faced from its mortgage insurance operations. The consensus estimate for the stock is $10.25.

Providing personal, property and casualty insurance among other products, MetLife Inc. (NYSE: MET) is also projected as an insurance winner. The consensus price for the stock is $44.50.

Carpet and floor covering manufacturer Mohawk Industries Inc. (NYSE: MHK) is a solid candidate to see immediate benefits from home building. The consensus estimate is $115.

New homeowners may be called on to be handy around the house. Hand and power tool giant Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (NYSE: SWK) can fill that need. The consensus price target for this well-known name is $85.

New homes also may require many new items to furnish, decorate and add the basics. Off-price retailer TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) is where many price conscience new owners may shop. The consensus estimate for this popular retail stock is $50.

Different areas of the country have different cable providers. That is why Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) also makes the UBS list. The consensus target is $103.

Rounding out the stocks on the U.S. housing recovery list is mortgage lending leader Wells Fargo & Co. Inc. (NYSE: WFC). The consensus estimate for the stock is $39. Shareholders are also paid a 2.70% dividend.

The UBS list highlights names that are above and beyond the usual list of materials and other building products used in actual construction. If their analysis in construction growth is correct, not only will the stocks on this list benefit, the American economy will get a needed shot in the arm.

Read Also: 10 Stocks That Will Drive The S&P 500 to New All-Time Highs

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) maintained Hold but price target cut to $420 from $500 at Jefferies.

America Movil SAB (NYSE: AMX) cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) cut to Underperform at Macquarie.

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) maintained Buy on Focus List with $65 target at Argus.

CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS) raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs and maintained Buy with $60 target at Argus.

Life Time Fitness Inc. (NYSE: LTM) named Bear of the Day at Zacks.

Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) raised to Outperform at BMO.

Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) started as Outperform at Pac-Crest.

RadioShack Inc. (NYSE: RSH) cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.

Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) cut to Neutral at Citigroup.

Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE: SHW) raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) maintained Outperform and raised target to $31 from $26 at Credit Suisse.

TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) started as Overweight at Barclays.

United Rentals Inc. (NYSE: URI) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) raised to Positive at Susquehanna.

Xoom Corp. (NASDAQ: XOOM) started as Buy at Needham, started as Market Perform at Raymond James, started as Outperform at William Blair and started as Overweight at Barclays.

UBS came out with a list of eight stocks to buy now.

Here are 11 stocks which analysts expect to rise 50% to 100% (or more) over the next year.

Despite a positive multiyear trend, many traditional retailers’ scores remain average at best — especially those that are struggling to keep up with growing online rivals. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the ACSI data to find the companies with the worst satisfaction scores in retail.

In the most recent ACSI study, the averages for all retail companies peaked at 76.6 on a 100-point scale in 2012. The exception was Internet retail, which the ACSI groups with e-commerce. This part of the industry had an average score of 82 last year. Of the nine retail companies with the worst ACSI scores, just one was an online retailer.

But even average ACSI scores actually weigh negatively on retailers. Larry Freed, CEO of consumer analytics firm ForeSee, which works with ACSI on Internet retailer rankings, told 24/7 Wall St. that consumer expectations are an important part of a company’s or an industry’s score. According to Freed, consumers are not expecting a better experience stores. “The bar’s not getting any higher; it’s getting lower, if anything.” Meanwhile, “In the online world, it’s getting higher every day,” Freed said.

Some of the companies that failed to impress consumers in 2012 have struggled to satisfy customers for years. Safeway, which had among the lowest scores among all retailers, has underperformed in customer satisfaction every year for the past 10 years.

For one company, underperforming its industry benchmark is a relatively new development. Netflix outperformed the average Internet retailer in customer satisfaction for four years, and in 2009 it was the top retailer. But in 2011 and 2012, the video streaming company has been the lowest rated internet retailer.

Although brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled to keep customers happy, they still account for the majority of sales. However, if online retailers continue to outperform traditional retailers in satisfying consumers, they are likely to continue to erode brick-and-mortar market share. A February U.S. Census Bureau release noted that, while only 5.4% of retail sales came from e-commerce, this is up from 4.8% the year before.

To identify the nine retailers with the worst customer satisfaction, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the customer satisfaction scores published by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) for e-commerce and retail trade companies. Additional information on corporate performance came the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and from corporate websites. More information on customer service ratings came from the MSN Money/JZ analytics 2012 Customer Service Survey.

These are the nine retailers with the worst customer service.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAG) raised to Neutral at J.P. Morgan.

AON Corp. (NYSE: AON) cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) cut to Neutral at BofA/Merrill Lynch.

The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE: SCHW) raised to Outperform at Bernstein.

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) started as Buy at Stern Agee.

Compania de Minas Buenaventura (NYSE: BVN) started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.

Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF) raised to Buy at KeyBanc.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) started as Underperform at Stern Agee.

hhgregg Inc. (NYSE: HGG) named as Bear of the Day at Zacks.

Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) raised to Equal Weight at Barclays.

Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) raised to Buy at BofA/Merrill Lynch.

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: KORS) started as Neutral at Stern Agee.

NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS) cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) started as Neutral at Stern Agee.

TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE: TJX) started as Buy at Stern Agee.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) raised to Overweight at Barclays.

Deutsche Bank says to buy the eight enduring tech stocks.