Art Capital Group and Annie Leibovitz have moved on from each other. Last week, the photographer found something of an angel in private equity firm Colony Capital LLC.

Leibovitz owed $24 million to the art investment bank last September, when she restructured her debt for terms that were not disclosed. The private equity firm, which worked with Michael Jackson in the past, settled the debt to Art Capital Group on March 8, 2010, and announced a "new partnership" with Leibovitz. None of the terms are being disclosed ... as usual.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Southern Copper (SCCO) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and positive near-term catalysts. The firm raised its target for shares to $38 from $35.
• JMP Securities upgraded Ultimate Software (ULTI) to outperform from market perform. The firm cites the company's expanding employee base for the upgrade. The firm has a $40 target on the stock.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Aeropostale (ARO) to neutral from underweight following the company's Q4 results and raised its target for shares to $31 from $24.
• Kennametal (KMT) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• Lifetime Brands (LCUT) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Barrington.
• Volvo (VOLVY) was upgraded to overweight from underweight at JPMorgan.

Sony (SNE) closed at $36.75. SNE April put option implied volatility is at 29, July is at 30, and October is at 31; below its 26-week average of 34, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Goldman Sachs (GS) closed at $169.84. March put option implied volatility is at 31, April is at 32, versus its six-month average of 33, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Three stocks with IV rise on March 5; Ciena (CIEN) +11%, Palm (PALM) +9%, Best Buy (BBY) +2%, according to IVolatility.

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

Goldman Sachs (GS) has topped its previous record of $100 million dollar trading days. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the bank made at least $100 million in net trading revenue on 131 days last year. Its previous record, set in 2008, was for 90 days of $100 million plus revenue.

Last year, during 263 trading days, Goldman lost money on only 19 days. Otherwise, it hit the jackpot pretty much every other day.

Yes it can. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) can outperform Apple Inc. (AAPL) in 2010. That was my thesis in December (see Buffett's Berkshire vs Jobs' Apple for 2010?) and I still believe all the Apple hype in the world will still succumb to a solid value proposition in the long run.

While Apple was reaching new all time highs Berkshire was treading water through 2009. However, after a monster run-up Apple is taking a breather.

The financial crisis, employment market and social media explosion have converged, providing a new level of clarity into what is happening in the world around us. Where was ground zero for this financial catastrophe? Well, according to the LinkedIn blog, five companies have shown the most action: Barclays (BCS), Credit Suisse (CS), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM). Interestingly, Goldman Sachs (GS), among the biggest winners now that we're pulling out from the recession, didn't see as much play.

Goldman Sachs (GS) closed at $157.26. March put option implied volatility is at 31, April is at 32, versus its six-month average of 33, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Walgreen (WAG) agreed to acquire Duane Reade from affiliates of Oak Hill Capital Partners. WAG anticipates the transaction to be dilutive to earnings per share in the first 12-months after closing. WAG overall option implied volatility of 28 is near its 26-week average of 26 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional near-term price movement.

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

Nine catastrophe bonds have matured so far in the first quarter of 2010, removing $1.8 billion in risk-transfer capacity, according to data from Reuters. The insurance industry has compensated with $508 million in new cat bond risk capital, with the busy fourth quarter helping to absorb what is maturing now. Only one cat bond has closed so far this year, The Hartford's (HIG) $180 million Foundation Re III. But, the first quarter is usually a quiet one for the cat bond market.

It partly replaces the $105 million in protection that Foundation Re D afforded. Swiss Re (SWCEY) and SCOR (SCRYY) are also among the insurance companies with bonds maturing that have at least partial coverage from new cat bond issuances. Another four bonds have matured, however, with no new related issuance, affecting Munich Re (MURGY), AXA (AXA) and others.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) wanted a piece of what could be the most interesting insurance IPO of the year, but it won't get a taste.

American International Group's (AIG) Asian life insurance unit, American International Association, is going to go public in Hong Kong for an estimated $10 billion, and JPMorgan isn't being allowed to play, insiders say, because of a sour relationship that stretches back to the September 2008 financial crisis. As a result, it will be the only major investment bank not being admitted to the party.