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MOST NOTEWORTHY: Och-Ziff Capital, FactSet, Forest Labs and certain optical component maker and provider stocks were today's noteworthy initiations.

• With just ten more shopping days until Christmas, it's time for a stocking stuffer wish list. With the recent market selloff, bargains are abound. If you think the 15% off sales in your favorite department store are interesting, here are stocks that are REALLY on sale, and would make the perfect stocking stuffer.

  For American Express (NYSE: AXP), the shopping season is going better than all the pessimists thought it would and the credit card company should stand to gain. In addition, since the market tends to be a leading economic indicator that looks out six months into the future, I would expect a strong pickup in growth in the second half of '08, which should also help earnings. With this stock trading down to levels not seen in 15 months, the stock is looking attractive for a turnaround.

  ClickSoftware (NASDAQ: CKSW) is the leading provider of mobile workforce management and service optimization solutions. With mobile applications just starting to come online into the market, this company could be a real winner. This stock isn't for the weak of heart, having dropped 43% from the 52 week-high. That being said, business is shaping up to be really strong for '08.

  When it reported its third quarter, Dr. Moshe BenBassat, ClickSoftware CEO, said, "We are very excited about the momentum that continues to build in our business. We are in the final stage of signing a deal with a large utility in North America. We have also been selected as the winner in another large, highly competitive deal, and are currently in final negotiations. Internationally, we have been selected by an important customer in France, and are deploying a pilot solution for one of Japan's largest utility companies."

  US Bancorp (NYSE: USB) just raised its dividend earlier in the week. To me, this was a bold move sticking it to the rest of the major banks. In a time where all we hear is billion dollar charges because of sub-prime related investments, it's refreshing to see a large bank that actually is returning more money to investors. During the whole sub-prime fiasco, US Bancorp stock has been holding up like a beast, and I think smart investors will jump in and push this stock to heights not seen in quite a while.

  Happy shopping!

  Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. Disclosure: Writer owns stock and is long CKSW. He has no position in any stock mentioned as of 12/14/07.

   

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• Digital Domain wants an IPO blockbuster
  

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