Apple(AAPL) Keep rising to $260
Select calls: AAPL, NANO, ASEI
I´m going to give you a quick overview of today´s calls:

- Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is likely on the move today again as Thomas Weisel is raising their price target to $250 (from $245) on checks that are pointing to above-expectations iPhone & iMac sales. Broadpoint.Amtech is raising their price target to $260 noting their iPhone sales estimates are 30% above consensus for Dec 09.

Notablecalls: The stock is just begging for a reason to move higher. Wants new highs. Wants $212+ today.

- Nanometrics (NASDAQ:NANO) price target is raised to $17 (from $13) at Piper Jaffray this morning as they believe that there is upside to their estimates as more chip makers increase spending and NANO introduces a new overlay tool. Moreover, the firm believes that it is in leading chip makers’ best interests to broaden their supplier bases and NANO is a prime beneficiary of this effort.

Notablecalls: NANO seems to be one the sexiest Semi Equipment names out there. I suspect the bump from PJCO will create enough buy intrest to propel the shares to $12+ today. I would not rule out $12.50 level today if the market plays ball.

- American Science & Engineering (NASDAQ:ASEI) will be on the move today for sure as Stifel noted that on December 24, the U.S. Army posted a notice indicating that it intends to negotiate solely (as prescribed in FAR 6.302-1, which states policies and procedures, and identifies the statutory authorities, for contracting without providing for full and open competition) with AS&E to provide thirty-seven Z-Backscatter Military Trailers (ZBMTs) to meet’ requirements in Afghanistan. The notice was not a request for competitive proposals as AS&E is considered to be the only source for the equipment. Stifel thinks the order is worth more than $1 million per unit.

Unfortunately, recent events have shown that acts of terror are still being attempted and that, globally, current passenger screening procedures are inadequate to stop such threats. On Christmas day, a passenger on an international flight inbound to a destination in the United States attempted to detonate an explosive device. The components of the device made it past the typical walk-through metal detector and x-ray parcel screener. Stifel thinks (along with many air travel security experts quoted over the weekend) that whole-body imagers and reduced size CT x-ray automated explosive detection systems could provide the solution. AS&E’s SmartCheck and Analogic’s eXaminer SX are among a handful of products that are capable of detecting the materials that were carried aboard and assembled during the flight. Orders for competitors’ equipment are currently being filled, but the firm thinks the recent attempt could accelerate purchases of the equipment. AS&E (ASEI – $71.70) is rated Buy and Analogic (ALOG – $36.20) is rated Hold. They think both stocks are likely to rise today.

Notablecalls: A $40-50mln contract and a juicy terrorist scare in just one weekend. All of a sudden homeland security is hot hot hot again. I think ASEI can trade up 3+ pts on this.

No clue on ALOG. Too thin.

Trade on Apple Stock Option with Binary Options Trading

Apple(AAPL Quote) shares continued to rise in early trading Monday after reaching a record high Thursday. The stock’s surge is due to speculation that in January, Apple will launch a major product, presumably its highly anticipated tablet computer.

By mid-morning, Apple’s stock hit $212.92, up nearly 2% over Thursday’s closing price of $209.04.

On Wednesday, the Financial Times reported that Apple rented space for several days next month at an arts center in San Francisco, possibly signaling that the Cupertino, Calif., electronics company is preparing for a big announcement. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed plans for a tablet, the anticipation of an iPad has captivated the imagination of enthusiasts and sparked debates among fans and investors for more than a year, as they eagerly await a new blockbuster Apple device.

With the Amazon (AMZN Quote) Kindle in its sights, Apple is believed to be preparing to start production of a 10-inch touchscreen e-book with the first model expected to arrive as early as March, Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner said earlier this month, citing information from suppliers. The report confirmed earlier rumors that suppliers were gearing up for a February kickoff of the Apple tablet.

Apple, known for its grandiose product launches, is also well-known for closely guarding plans and announcements of its new tech tools. Rumors continue to swirl around the tablet’s official name; last week, Apple watchdog MacRumors.com reported that Apple had acquired domain name iSlate.com, while BusinessWeek noted that Apple controls the trademark name TabletMac, which it took over from company Axiotron in November 2008.