Bulls Go Wire to Wire

Among other analyst actions, Prudential upgraded Tribune Co. to neutral from underweight, while also raising the stock price target to $34 from $27. Elsewhere, Wachovia initiated coverage of Nymex Holdings (NMX Quote) with an outperform rating.

Tribune was off 13 cents, or 0.4%, to $32.68, a day after rising 2.2% on news that the company's board has accepted Sam Zell's buyout offer. Nymex lost $1.18, or 0.9%, at $131.79.

Global stocks collected gains. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.3% overnight to 17,244, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1% to 20,003. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 and the Paris Cac 40 advanced 0.8%, and Frankfurt's Xetra DAX climbed 1.6% to 7045.