Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #1 Rank ("strong buy") List today:

8x8 Inc (EGHT) Advisory Board Co (ABCO) Agilent Technologies Inc (A) American Apparel Inc (APP) Amerco Inc (UHAL) Amerigon Inc (ARGN) AudioCodes Ltd (AUDC) Banco de Chile (BCH) Bancorp Inc (TBBK) Bare Escentuals Inc (BARE) Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp (BGFV) Black & Decker Corp (BDK) BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (BPT) Cantel Medical Corp (CMN) Clearwater Paper Corp (CLW) CNinsure Inc (CISG) Commerce Bancshares Inc (CBSH) ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

Administaff Inc (ASF) Aetna Inc (AET) BTU International Inc (BTUI) Capital Product Partners LP (CPLP) Carlisle Companies Inc (CSL) CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF) Chemtura Corp (CEMJQ) CommScope Inc (CTV) CommVault Systems Inc (CVLT) Exterran Partners LP (EXLP) Extra Space Storage Inc (EXR) G&K Services Inc (GKSR) Genzyme Corp (GENZ) HCP Inc (HCP) Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp (IART) Lazard Ltd (LAZ) Matthews International Corp (MATW) Mindray Medical International Ltd (MR) Minerals Technologies Inc (MTX) The Mosaic Co (MOS) North Valley Bancorp (NOVB) P A M Transportation Services Inc (PTSI) Patriot Capital Funding Inc (PCAP) Patterson Companies Inc (PDCO) Paychex Inc (PAYX) Penford Corp (PENX) Penson Worldwide Inc (PNSN) ...

Highlights include Vivo Participacoes SA (VIV), Tim Participacoes SA (TSU), Ultrapar Participacoes SA (UGP) and Gafisa SA (GFA).Today the Brazilian Central Bank will announce a new cut in domestic interest rates. The global crisis reached Brazil, and according to the last Focus survey (a weekly survey conducted by the Brazilian Central Bank with brokers, banks and consultants), the Brazilian GDP should fall 0.39% in 2009. We believe this outlook is still benign. The IMF expects the Brazilian economy to fall 1.3% this year.In such a challenging economic environment, it sounds really odd that Brazilian domestic interest rates still are at 11.25% per year. The inflation target for 2009 is 4.5% and, again according to the Focus survey, expected inflation for 2009 is now at 4.3% per year. Forget about soccer -- indeed Brazil is now the world champion of real interest rates!...

Highlights include Companhia de Bebidas das Americas, AmBev (ABV), Ultrapar Participacoes SA (UGP) and Vivo Participacoes SA (VIV).According to the report released by the IMF yesterday, the Brazilian GDP should decline 1.3% this year. According to the same report, world economy is also expected to decrease 1.3%. The developed economies as a whole should decline 3.8%, with Japan the worst performer with a decrease of 6.2%.Among emerging economies, the worst case should be Russia with -6%; in Latin America the worst country would be Mexico with -3.7%. As expected, China will be the best performer with a growth of 6.5%.For 2010, Brazil is expected to grow 2.2%. As any prediction, this last IMF report should be taken skeptically; nevertheless, the basic assumption behind the numbers remains the same -- emerging economies will outperform and Brazil will be among the top-performing countries ...

Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

American Safety Insurance Holdings Ltd (ASI) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd (AGII) Canadian Natural Resource Ltd (CNQ) China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (SNP) ECB Bancorp Inc (ECBE) Gamco Investors Inc (GBL) Hill-Rom Holdings Inc (HRC) Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd (IR) Layne Christensen Co (LAYN) Lincoln National Corp (LNC) McGrath RentCorp (MGRC) Oxford Industries Inc (OXM) Partner Communications Company Ltd (PTNR) Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT) Speedway Motorsports Inc (TRK) Team Inc (TISI) Teck Cominco Ltd (TCK) Ultrapar Participacoes SA (UGP) Whirlpool Corp (WHR) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List.

Zacks Investment Research

Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Ultrapar Participações S.A. (UGP) is a major Brazilian holding company, engaged through its four subsidiaries in fuel and lubricants distribution, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution/production, chemicals and petrochemicals, and the storage and transportation of chemicals and LPG.We are reiterating our Buy recommendation on Ultrapar. The company posted positive results for the third quarter 2008. Oxiteno will benefit from lower oil prices, some depreciation in the Brazilian real, and the start of operational expansion. The Texaco deal is very positive, as it will help Ipiranga serve its clients nationwide.Finally, we believe that Brazilian domestic consumption will be less affected by the current crisis thanks to a more relaxed monetary policy. Thus, the current valuation seems attractive.Read the full analyst report on UGP "UGP" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research...