Get ready for a flood of tablets to hit the market as tech companies try to benefit from the glow of Apple's (AAPL) iPad. And one of the first entrants is Samsung Electronics. This week, the company launched its Galaxy Tab.

And yes, the device runs on Google's (GOOG) mobile operating system, Android (version 2.2). The screen comes to 7-inches and you can access the Net via a cell phone connection (and you can make calls as well). There is also storage capacity of 16GB. Interestingly enough, the Galaxy has a front and rear camera, something the iPad does not have.

Analyst Upgrades

• Hudson Square upgraded Take-Two (TTWO) to buy from hold, citing the better-than-expected Q3 report and increased guidance.
• Keybanc upgraded The Buckle (BKE) to hold from underweight given the potential for a special dividend in the near term.
• Stifel Nicolaus upgraded K-Sea Transportation (KSP) to hold from sell, citing KA First Reserve's $100M equity investment.
• Gold Fields (GFI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• James Hardie NV (JHX) was upgraded to neutral from reduce at Nomura.

For the past few years, the shares of SAP (SAP) have had little direction. While the company has solid cash flows and a massive customer base, the growth ramp has stalled. Of course, SAP is not alone. Other tech giants like Cisco (CSCO), Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT) have faced the same problem.

Yet, according to Bloomberg.com, SAP thinks it can rev things up again. How? Yes, the opportunity is China.

It's been brutal for H&R Block (HRB). Its stock has gone from $23 to $12.50 a share over the past year. But in the latest earnings report, there was some hopeful news for shareholders. In fact, H&R Block's shares were up 8% following the report. However, there are still challenges for the company and its probably better to look at the stock early next year, at the start of the new tax season.

In the fiscal first quarter, H&R Block posted a loss of $130.7 million, or $0.41 per share. Of course, the shortfall is normal because of the seasonality in the business.

In a surprise and unexpected move, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Reuters that he was extending the grain export ban until 2011. "I would like to note that lifting of the export ban can only be considered after next year's crops have harvested," Putin said according to Reuters.

Russia is now suffering through its worst drought in nearly 100 years. Grain harvest have been cut by two thirds, down to 60-65 million tons from 97 million tons in 2009.

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), a video-game publisher that competes with Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), saw a huge increase in its share price during Thursday's after-hours session. Can you believe the stock was bid to a quote of $10.04 -- a 13% gain?

I myself was impressed. Whenever a psychological level is reached (in this case, above $10 per share), your mind takes notice. It may not be logical, of course, but that's how it is.

On Wednesday, I noted a good short-hand for time-pressed investors who want to gauge whether or not it's a good time to start committing more money to stocks -- the U.S. Department of Labor's monthly Employment Situation report. It receives ample media coverage. In a summary: more than 125,000 jobs per month created consistently? That's bullish for the Dow.

Here's a second indicator: initial jobless claims. However, because jobless claims can fluctuate wildly due to idiosyncratic events (holidays, strikes, weather-related job cuts, etc.), use the 400,000-level barometer.

Manpower (MAN) closed up $1.96 to $46.87. MAN overall option implied volatility of 37 is near its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

SanDisk (SNDK) closed up $1.18 to $36. SNDK September put option implied volatility is at 54, October is at 55, January is at 55; above its 26 week average of 51. SNDK call option volume of 38K contracts compares to put volume of 14K contracts according to Track Data, suggesting traders taking positions for price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Technical analyst, Jim Stallakis,writing for Businessweek. com says cocoa could fall 12% in the next two months.

Technical analysts use charts and various indicators to arrive at their predictions. One key tool that most traders use are support and resistance levels. Support levels are just that. They support the price at a given level. Resistance levels are upside points were trading occurred, but then backed off. Breaking support levels usually means further downside movement. Conversely, breaking through resistance levels signals a rally.

Nordstrom (JWN - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said its August same-store sales rose 6.3%, topping analysts' forecasts of 5.9% growth. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on JWN.

JWN opened this morning at $31.79. So far today the stock has hit a low of $31.38 and a high of $32.92. As of 12:30, JWN is trading at $32.29 up $1.97 (6.5%). The chart for JWN looks neutral and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) may be at a tipping point right now. And for a stock that has seen four big price gaps during 2010, the move could be a big one. The question is, will the stock gap higher or lower?

Goldman Sachs -- citing influences like a higher mix of smartphones and tablets, the move from voice-to-data-centric devices in China and India and a weaker US dollar -- recently reiterated its Conviction Buy List rating for Qualcomm and raised its price target from $44 to $46.

Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, has long advocated fiscal conservatism. In a recent interview for CNBC, he told the U.S. to stop printing money, bite the bullet and go on an austerity program. His ideas are sound but are falling on deaf ears at the Federal Reserve. Rogers said that he would rather have Europe manage our fiscal policy.

We must remember that Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has already pledged and spent $12.8 trillion dollars to bail a handful of bankers. Now he says he will spend more if needed. He is already pumping money into the economy by buying treasuries with the proceeds of expiring securities.

What is happening in the cattle market is directly affecting food prices at your local supermarket. Here are some upsetting numbers.

• Global meat prices have hit a 20-year high.
• The UN Food & Agriculture Organization's index was the highest in August since 1990.
• Live cattle futures hit $1 per pound, the highest in 22 months.
• Australian lamb prices have risen above $5.50 a kilo, the highest since 1973-74.
• And this is the big whopper: Pork bellies, which are used for bacon, are at a record $1.50 per pound.
• The higher cost of feed is driving up prices.

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities upgraded Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to outperform from market perform based on valuation and checks that indicate strength in enterprise PCs, high growth geographies and light laptops. The firm has a $50 target on the stock.
• RBC Capital upgraded Rio Tinto (RTP) to outperform from sector perform, citing the company's improving growth plans and attractive risk profile.
• Goldman upgraded FormFactor (FORM) to neutral from sell, but lowered its price target to $6 from $10. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• MCG Capital (MCGC) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• CRH (CRH) was upgraded to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Melco Crown (MPEL) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.

A company the size of Cisco (CSCO) needs to find massive market opportunities. So why not the electric grid? No doubt, it needs lots of improvement. In fact, there is an emerging trend towards making it much smarter. And no doubt, Cisco's technology can be a big help.

At the same time, the company is revving up its acquisitions machine. The latest deal is for Arch Rock. The financial details were not disclosed.