MKM's parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC), is one of Japan's largest chemical companies.

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Hertz need not worry about eating into its existing customer-base, says Chris Agnew of MKM Partners, a research and trading firm.

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"DRAM consolidation is likely still going to move ahead, but the loss of a key man in negotiations would slow it down, " MKM Partners analyst Daniel Berenbaum said.

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During the past month, MKM Partners and ISI Group have initiated coverage on CSCO with Buy ratings (on Nov. 1 and Oct. 14, respectively), while UBS upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral on Oct. 27.

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But if several recent studies are to be believed, including a report of one from MKM Partners that found a 0.6 percent increase in the price of 86 everyday items at Walmart stores during the past two months alone, inflation has already arrived.

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