Company News for October 1, 2009

• Alcoa (NYSE:AA) was upgraded to "buy" from "hold" by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) due to a "more optimistic view of base, bulk and precious metals over the medium-term"

• After yesterday's close, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) CEO, Ken Lewis, announced plans to retire. The bank also reported plans to sell its asset-management unit to Ameriprise (NYSE:AMP) for between $900 and $1.2 billion

• Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) received two brokerage upgrades

• Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) denied reports of talks with General Electric (NYSE:GE) over the purchase of a stake in NBC Universal

• Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) initiated a $3 billion cash offer for Norwegian video-conferencing firm Tandberg

• Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) was removed from Goldman Sachs' (NYSE:GS) Conviction Buy List, with its "buy" rating maintained and a $30 price target

• Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) reported fiscal second quarter results of 45 cents up from estimates of 41 cents equaling last year's 45 cents

Read the full analyst report on AA

Read the full analyst report on DB

Read the full analyst report on BAC

Read the full analyst report on AMP

Read the full analyst report on GS

Read the full analyst report on CMSA

Read the full analyst report on CSCO

Read the full analyst report on MSFT

Read the full analyst report on STZ