Sprint LAUNCHES 4G LTE in 15 Metro Areas and 3 Hot Morning Stocks Turning Heads

Deutsche Bank downgrades Exxon Mobile (NYSE:XOM) from Buy to Hold citing weak 2012 volumes that could be down 4 percent y-on-y despite the recovery from the 6 percent fall seen in Q1; the firm estimates q-on-q earnings could be flat, and thinks Chevron is the best energy play among mega-cap stocks.

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Sprint (NYSE:S) announces the launch of its 4G LTE network covering 15 metro areas as it races against time to have its LTE buildout substantially complete by end-2013; with top-end smartphones such as Samsung’s Galaxy SIII supporting the LTE technology opposite Sprint’s WIMAX 4G network, and the new iPhone also expected to follow suit, Sprint has its work cut out.

According to the NYT, the new iPad Mini is likely to sport a 7.85″ display and cost much less than the current $499 price of the iPad (NASDAQ:AAPL); market surveys indicate strong demand potential for an iPad priced south of $300.

In its drive to boost mobile content consumption, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) acquires the staff of Spool, a mobile book-marking start-up, in another “acqui-hire.”

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