The equity markets opened strong this morning, with the Dow trading in narrow band around 140 points up all morning until about 1:30 in the afternoon. Hopeful economic news from Europe started things going in the morning, and even somewhat weak reports on non-manufacturing supply and factory orders didn’t deter traders. The sharp drop in the afternoon came after S&P warned Germany and other AAA-rated Eurozone countries that may lose their rating as a result of the turmoil in the economic and political climate. That warning also sent the dollar to a slight gain against the euro and the British pound. WTI crude is trading down about -0.2% in the late afternoon at $100.75/barrel, after rising to a gain of more than 1% earlier in the day. Gold is also down about -1.3%, at $1,724.00/ounce, it’s lowest level of the day.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA up more than 78points to 12,097.83 (0.65%), the NASDAQ rose nearly 29 points (1.10%) to 2,655.76, and the S&P 500 rose 1.03% or nearly 13 points to 1,257.08.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including Alcoa, Inc. (NYSE: AA) cut to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’at Goldman Sachs. Other ratings action include Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (NYSE: CBI) removed from ‘Conviction Buy List’ at Goldman Sachs, but maintained at ‘buy’; Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) cut to ‘sell’ from ‘neutral’ at Goldman Sachs; Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) cut to from ‘outperform’ to ‘market perform’ at Wells Fargo; and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) raised to ‘outperform’ from ‘market perform’ at Wells Fargo. We include Cablevision and Time Warner in our story today about tomorrow’s release of new software for the Xbox from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT).

Here are today’s post-earnings news reactions with prices during the last half-hour of trading: Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) is up more than 1.6% at $40.59, after posting a new 52-week high earlier today of $41.25; and Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: HITK) is down more than -9% at $38.75, after posting a new 52-week high this morning of $44.58. Earnings releases have slowed significantly this month, but there are some noteworthy reports coming after markets close today: Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust (NYSE: CHKR), Blyth, Inc. (NYSE: BTH), Pep Boys-Manny, Joe, and Jack (NYSE: PBY), and Uranium Energy Corp. (AMEX: UEC).

Several other standouts from today are as follows…

SuccessFactors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFSF) is up more than 51%, at $39.71. The cloud-based software maker is being acquired by SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) for about $3.4 billion ($40/share). We have more coverage on this story here.

Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX) is up more than 27%, at $2.11. The stem-cell research firm, which uses adult cells not embryonic cells, is apparently back in favor after falling to a 52-week low of $1.00 just over two weeks ago.

Taleo Corp. (NASDAQ: TLEO) is up more than 21%, at $39.99, after posting a new 52-week high of $41.23. Another cloud-based solution supplier, Taleo is one of a number of cloud developer stocks jumping today on the halo effect from SAP’s acquisition of SuccessFactors.

Tenet Healthcare Corp. (NYSE: THC) is up more than 11%, at $4.66. The health care facilities operator fell more than -10% on Friday, when investors over-reacted to some downgrades in the entire sector; today’s gains are just a reaction to last week’s over-reaction.

Recovery Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: RECV) is up more than 22%, at $5.34. This small oil & gas E&P holds 137,000 net acres in the Denver-Julesberg basin in northwestern Colorado, and began trading on the Nasdaq just about one month ago.

Stay tuned for Tuesday. We have noted Federal Reserve Governor Daniel Tarullo scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on the Dodd-Frank bill. Here are other noteworthy events scheduled for Tuesday (all times Eastern):

• 7:45 a.m. – International Council of Shopping Centers/Goldman Sachs weekly sales report
• 8:55 a.m. – International Council of Shopping Centers Redbook

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