Late Tuesday, Focus Media Holding Limited (FMCN: sentiment, chart, options) was initiated with a "buy" rating and a $13.50 price target at Oscar Gruss. In a note to clients, the brokerage firm stated, "SINA (SINA) will acquire FMCN's LCD Display Network, Poster Frame Network and In-Store Network; these related businesses combined accounted for 52% of FMCN revenue and 73% of gross profit [for 9 months]...We believe this transaction provides investors with an attractive opportunity to share in any potential future FMCN upside at little or no cost."

Thanks to this bullish endorsement, FMCN is up 2.3% this morning to trade at $9. The Shanghai-based advertising firm has endured a brutal 2008, down 84.5% year-to-date. However, while the equity remains stifled by resistance from its 10-week moving average, FMCN recently muscled above its 20-day trendline. This short-term moving average has underlined the stock's rebound since Dec. 10.

Despite the security's uninspiring price action, it could potentially catch a boost if more brokerage firms follow the lead set by Oscar Gruss. The shares have garnered 5 lukewarm "holds" and 1 "sell," according to Zacks, compared to just 3 "buy" or better ratings.