Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals

Gilead Sciences (GILD) received a major pipeline setback with disappointing results from a phase III trial of darusentan in which it failed to achieve its primary endpoint. The drug was being studied under an international clinical trial (DAR-312) for the treatment of resistant hypertension. As a...

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) was today downgraded by BMO Capital Markets to Market Perform from Outperform. The 52-week trading range for Compass Minerals is $45.64 - $70.27. In the last trading session, CMP closed at $69.87. The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) was today downgraded...

Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Usina Moema Participacoes, a holding company for a sugar-cane mill in Brazil and ownership interests in five others, for 7.3 million shares. Bunge Limited will become the 100% owner of Usina Moema. BG closed...

Canadian fertilizer maker Agrium (NYSE: AGU) has recieved a conditional OK from U.S. antitrust officials in their hostile bid for CF Industries (NYSE: CF). Approval is contingent on Agrium selling CF's Ritzville anhydrous ammonia terminal in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and its own Marseilles...

Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) was today downgraded by Jesup & Lamont to Hold from Buy. The 52-week trading range for ALGT is $32.07 - $57.52. In the previous trading session, Allegiant Travel closed at $48.84. In the last six months, ALGT gained over 40%. Exxon Mobil Corporation (...

A series of corporate deal announcements and analyst upgrades of two Dow components returned to boost confidence on the Street and sent stocks sharply higher even as a controversial legislation to revamp the U.S. healthcare system inched closer toward finalization.  The mergers and acquisition...

Analysts at Goldman Sachs upgrade Mosaic Co (NYSE: MOS) from "neutral" to "buy." The target price for MOS has been raised from $64 to $68. According to Goldman Sachs, the upgrade in the rating is to reflect the significant decline in Mosaic’s share price last week. Although investors are concerned...

According to a report published in The Street, some of the key stocks that are set to see a surge in 2010 are: Clorox (NYSE: CLX): CLX’s products, including the company’s namesake bleach, salad dressing and cat litter, can be seen across retailers, from big ones like Wal-Mart to small mom-and-pop...

Credit Suisse increased its price target for Agrium Inc (NYSE: AGU) from $63 to $74 and retained its Outperformance rating. The stock is trading at $58.58 and the increase in the target price was to reflect Credit Suisse’s revised 2011 estimates. Credit Suisse lowered its EPS estimate for 2009...

A new crop cycle and the replacement of soil nutrients will boost fertilizer maker Mosaic’s (NYSE: MOS) bottom line and stock. Barron’s reports that, if fertilizer prices recover, it could propel Mosaic’s earnings to $6 or $7 by 2012 and a price of around $80. As arable land decreases and food...

Year 3, Week 20 Major Position ChangesTo see historic weekly fund changes click here OR the label at the bottom of this entry entitled 'fund positions'.Cash: 78.4% (v 80.7% last week)23 long bias: 18.9% (v 17.0% last week) 3 short bias: 2.7% (v 2.3% last week) [includes 1 option position]26...