Analyst Actions: Burlington and Noble Upgraded; Ball Launched With Buy Rating

J.P. Morgan initiated coverage of Ball (BLL Quote) with a buy rating.

Warburg Dillon Read upgraded oil and gas exploration company Burlington Resources (BR Quote) to strong buy from hold.

Bear Stearns analyst Scott Ehrens initiated coverage of Buy.com (BUYX Quote) with a buy rating.

Merrill Lynch upgraded its intermediate-term rating on Firstar (FSR Quote) to accumulate from neutral. It kept its long-term buy rating on the stock.

Lehman Brothers initiated coverage of First Bell (FBBC Quote) with a neutral rating.

Merrill Lynch initiated coverage of Magic Software (MGIC Quote), an Israel-based business solutions and software company, with a buy rating and a 12-month price target of 40.

Warburg upgraded Masco (MAS Quote) to strong buy from buy.

Credit Suisse First Boston upgraded Nextel Communications (NXTL Quote) to strong buy from buy.

Warburg Dillon Read upgraded oil and gas exploration company Noble Affiliates (NBL Quote) to strong buy from hold.

Merrill upgraded its intermediate-term rating on Pharmacia & Upjohn (PNU Quote) to buy from accumulate. It maintained its long-term rating of buy on the stock.

Merrill reinstated coverage of Southdown (SDW Quote) with an intermediate-term rating of accumulate and a long-term rating of buy.

Warburg initiated coverage of Spieker Properties (SPK Quote) with a hold rating.

CSFB initiated coverage of Waste Connections (WCNX Quote) with a buy rating.

CSFB upgraded Western Wireless (WWCA Quote) to strong buy from buy.