Wall Street sell-side research is a key part of the financial markets, written by analysts working for brokerage firms, investment banks and other institutions. Research reports An analyst's published research report might include a company overview with basic information about a company's business, products and position in the relevant market. This is especially true when an analyst is first initiating research coverage into a particular company or industry. Analyst recommendations affect stock prices every day , especially if an analyst or her firm is highly reputable or believed to hold expertise in a particular area. Contrarian indicators Analyst recommendations can occasionally act as a contrarian indicator , too.

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Persons: Merrill Lynch, Henry Blodgett, Merrill Organizations: Research, Wall, Sarbanes, Oxley, Global, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Association of Securities Dealers, CNBC Pro Locations: Sarbanes