Catch up on today's top five analyst downgrades with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Southwest (LUV) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Argus with analyst John Staszak saying that despite being well managed and financially strong, its focus on the domestic market will lead to slower relative growth based on better expected performance in the international space. 2. Motorcar Parts (MPAA) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Roth Capital with analyst Matt Koranda saying he expects margin erosion to intensify in the coming quarters as better industry growth is awaited. 3. BHP Billiton (BHP) and Rio Tinto (RIO) were downgraded to Hold from Buy at Investec. 4. AEGON (AEG) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill with analyst Michael van Wegen citing "relatively strong" stock performance. 5. Splunk (SPLK) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Citi with analyst Walter Pritchard saying he sees "growth drivers plateauing" and "some warning signs in numbers." This list is just a portion of The Fly's full analyst coverage. To see The Fly's full Street Research coverage, click here.

Says majority of Boeing (BA) capacity cuts expected to take place early in the year.

Says saw nice acceleration in managed business revenues in Q1. Says continued streak of "solid" operations performance in Q1. Says eliminating service in Syracuse, Cozumel, Bellingham, and Houston. Says reducing flights in Atlanta and Chicago. Comments taken from Q1 earnings conference call.

Anglo American (NGLOY) doesn't view BHP's (BHP) proposed $39B takeover bid as attractive, Reuters' Clara Denina, Amy-Jo Crowley and Anousha Sakoui report, citing two sources. According to one source, the offer does not address the complexities of demerging the Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore businesses in South Africa. Anglo's board is expected to give a formal response in the coming days. Reference Link

Check out this morning's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.  UP AFTER EARNINGS... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

BHP Group (BHP) is weighing a possible acquisition of Anglo American (NGLOY), Bloomberg's Crystal Tse, Dinesh Nair, and Thomas Biesheuvel report, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The company has recently been evaluating the possibility of an offer for Anglo American, the authors note. Reference Link

Notable companies reporting before tomorrow's open, with earnings consensus, include Merck (MRK), consensus $1.87... Caterpillar (CAT), consensus $5.14... Comcast (CMSCA), consensus 99c... Honeywell (HON), consensus $2.17... Bristol-Myers (BMY), consensus ($4.44)... Altria (MO), consensus $1.15... Keurig Dr. Pepper (KDP), consensus 35c... GE Vernova (GEV), consensus (37c)... Royal Caribbean (RCL), consensus $1.33... Tractor Supply (TSCO), consensus $1.72... Mobileye (MBLY), consensus (6c)... Textron (TXT), consensus $1.23... LabCorp (LH), consensus $3.48... Southwest Airlines (LUV), consensus (34c)... American Airlines (AAL), consensus (29c)... Harley-Davidson (HOG), consensus $1.51.

New option listings for April 23rd include Express Inc (EXPRQ). Option delistings effective April 23rd include PGT Innovations Inc (PGTI), NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NGM), Karuna Therapeutics Inc (KRTX), KINNATE BIOPHARMA INC (KNTE), Daseke Inc (DSKE), Tritium Dcfc Ltd (DCFC), Xtrackers MSCI All China Equity ETF (CN), CymaBay Therapeutics Inc (CBAY), Alteryx Inc (AYX), XTRACKERS MSCI CHINA A INCLUSION EQUITY ETF (ASHX), Recro Pharma, Inc. (SCTL), Splunk Inc (SPLK), and Textainer Group Holdings Limited (TGH).

Midland Exploration announced the execution of an amended option agreement on April 22, 2024 with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada and the addition of the Wookie project to the option agreement signed with RTEC in June 2023. The Wookie project is located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay area. The amended option agreement now consists of eleven projects totalling 2,208 claims covering a surface of about 1,139 square kilometres. These projects include Galinee, Corvette, Mythril East, Chisaayuu, Moria, Shire, Komo, Warp, Sulu, Picard and Wookie. Highlights: Addition of the Wookie project to the option agreement with RTEC; Additional $1,5M of expenditures for the initial 50% and $4,0M for 70% interest, with additional $100,000 cash payment upon execution and another $250,000 over a 4-year period. Under the amended Option Agreement, RTEC may acquire an initial 50% interest in the Properties over a period of five years, subject to the following conditions: Additional cash payment of $100,000 within 45 days of the amendment execution and additional cash payment of $250,000 over a 4-year period. Additional exploration expenditures of $1,500,000 for a new total of $16,000,000, including a firm commitment to spend not less than $2,000,000 in the first 18 months following the lifting of the wildfire restrictions in Quebec last August 2023. After acquiring an initial 50% interest, RTEC will have the option to increase its interest in the Properties to 70% over a period of five years following the exercise of the First Option, subject to the following conditions: Additional exploration expenditures of $4,000,000 for a new total of $54,000,000. The Properties are wholly-owned by Midland and all located within he Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, Quebec. RTEC will act as project operator under the Option Agreement during the First Option period and the Second Option period. The signing of the amended option agreement follows a new evaluation of the lithium potential of the Wookie project and its favorable geological context. The Wookie project is located within the La Grande geological subprovince of the lithium-rich Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, which hosts most of the lithium deposits, including deposits such as Corvette, James Bay Lithium, Whabouchi, and Adina. among others. The Wookie project consists of 188 claims and is located about 40 kilometres north-northwest of the James Bay Lithium deposit. The Wookie project is underlain by a lower Amphibolite facies metamorphosed bedrock, recognized to be the most favorable metamorphic facies for lithium pegmatites worldwide. Furthermore, most of the lithium deposits in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area are found in pegmatites emplaced within mafic volcanic or intrusive rocks units. The Wookie project covers more than twenty square kilometers of mafic volcanic rocks that have not been extensively explored for lithium. Finally, several historical Quebec government rock samples of pegmatites collected close to the project have returned anomalous tantalum, cesium and rubidium values. While these samples were not analyzed for lithium, this element suite is strongly suggestive of favorable LCT pegmatites. The favorable environment is strengthened by the discovery of a spodumene pegmatite that returned up to 3.9% Li2O by Quebec Precious Metals Corporation near the Wookie project