"Five years ago, we presented a strong case for investing in China; we felt so compelled by the opportunity that we expanded our research team and opened a regional research office in Hong Kong," says Jim Oberweis, Jr.

The money manager and editor of The Oberweis Report reviews his current outlook on China, as well as some of his favorite U.S.-listed small cap Chinese companies that are currently in our portfolio.

The advisor explains, "We just recently celebrated the five-year anniversary of our Oberweis China Opportunities Fund; since its inception, the fund returned an average annualized gain of 22.94%.

Continue reading Favorite Small Caps from China Opportunities Fund

Favorite Small Caps from China Opportunities Fund originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Barrington upgraded Global Payments (GPN) to outperform from market perform following the company's Q3 results and raised earnings guidance.
• FBR Capital upgraded Foot Locker (FL) to outperform from market perform to reflect the company's improving comps and international expansion. The firm set a $17 price target for shares.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Legg Mason (LM) to outperform from market perform and raised its target for shares to $37 from $34.
• Acuity Brands (AYI) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Ann Taylor (ANN) was upgraded to hold from underperform at Jefferies.
• Waddell & Reed (WDR) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANN, BLK, FL, GPN, GPS, HGSI, LM, RIMM, SON ...

Analyst Calls: ANN, BLK, FL, GPN, GPS, HGSI, LM, RIMM, SON ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The contributing editor to UnCommon Wisdom explains, "The Lunar New Year is considered to be a combination of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's all rolled into an elaborate celebration of reflection, gratitude, renewal and hope. It is the single most celebrated holiday in China.

Continue reading Seven Buys for the Chinese New Year

Seven Buys for the Chinese New Year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The Chinese people's growing appetite for travel is a big story and it has put two Chinese stocks into our current list of our top ten stock ideas," says technical and fundamental stock expert Mike Cintolo. In his The Cabot Top Ten Report, he takes a look at Home Inns (HMIN) and Ctrip.com (CTRP).

Cintolo explains, "Ctrip.com is la Chinese online search engine that has taken a U.S. Web business (in this case Expedia) and translated it to suit Chinese tastes.

"The company started by aggregating hotel vacancies and offering them online at a discount. Now, Ctrip.com has broadened its offerings to include airline tickets and packaged tours inside China.

Continue reading Two favorites in China travel sector

Two favorites in China travel sector originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The Olympics have long been a boon to stock markets of host countries," notes Tony Sagami, a leading global stock advisor with a noted specialty in Asian markets.

In his Asia Stock Alert newsletter, he notes, "I believe the chief beneficiaries of the Olympic Games will be consumer and travel-related stocks. And within these sectors, I've chosen six stocks poised to bring home Olympic gold from Beijing."

"We saw a 19% gain in the Spanish stock market in the 12 months before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and the 27% gain in the Greek stock market in the year before the 2004 Athens Olympics. And those countries were not growing at a fraction of the breakneck pace that China is. So it wouldn't surprise me to see the Chinese stock market do even better.

Olympic Gold Winner #1: China Mobile (NYSE: CHL):

"It seems like every person I see in China has a cell phone glued to their ear. And the cell phone is not just the primary voice communication medium in China; it is also the common way most Chinese access the Internet and email. In China, the cell phone 'is' the personal computer.

"Heck, most new high-rise condominium and apartment complexes being built in China aren't even wired for land lines. Once you understand the device's role, you'll see why China Mobile has more cell phone users (360 million) than the U.S. has people. I expect a lot of cell phone calls and text messages during the Beijing Olympics!

Continue reading Six China stocks set to take home Olympic gold

Six China stocks set to take home Olympic gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Rodman & Renshaw is positive on GTX Inc's (NASDAQ: GTXI) opportunity for Acapodene in prostate cancer and Ostarine for muscle wasting. The firm started shares with an Outperform rating and $22 target.
  
• Akeena Solar (NASDAQ: AKNS) was initiated with a Buy rating at Merriman. The firm believes the company is positioned to generate a high margin recurring revenue stream through the licensing of its Andalay proprietary rack mounting system.
  
• Roth Capital expects NexMed's (NASDAQ: NEXM) Phase III data for its antifungal Lamisil, expected in mid-2008, to be positive. The firm, which started NexMed with a Buy rating and $2.50 target, said early clinical data demonstrated a roughly 7-8X improvement in fungal reductions versus the competitive topical formulation sold as Penlac. The analyst said Phase III trial will admittedly have a different end point, but this data makes them bullish.

• Lehman initiated Liberty Entertainment (NASDAQ: LMDIA) with an Overweight rating and $30 target.
  
• Canaccord Adams assumed Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) with a Hold rating and $120 target.
  
• Home Inns (NASDAQ: HMIN) was started at Morgan Stanley with an Overweight rating and $28 target.

Analyst initiations: PCLN, GTXI, AKNS and NEXM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Home Inns & Hotels Mangement, Inc.: A place to lay your head originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors who were featured at the show, and I have been highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"As it feverishly prepares for the 2008 Olympics -- the biggest coming out party for a country in history -- China appears ready to take its place in the global economic elite," notes international investing expert Nick Vardy.

The London-based money manager and editor of The Global Bull Market Alert sees opportunity in Shanghai-headquartered, Home Inns & Hotels Management (NASDAQ:HMIN).

He explains, "Operating exclusively in China's fast-growth markets, Home Inn has become China's top budget hotel chain virtually overnight. And with the Olympic games putting China firmly on the global tourism map, Home Inns also offers U.S. investors the best way to profit directly from the massive demand for hotel rooms in China by foreigners.

"Incorporated in 2002, Home Inns has a head start in China that gives the company a huge first-mover advantage in a sector with vast potential. Domestic Chinese travel jumped almost 75% from 1995 to 2004, with travel spending growing to $66.1 billion. Home Inns already operates 134 hotels across China, opening 27 hotels in the fourth quarter of 2006 alone.

"An additional 48 hotels are already under contract. With operations in 39 cities, and having its pick of prime, underserved markets with strong population and economic growth, Home Inns is particularly well-positioned to take advantage of China's potential moving ahead.

Continue reading Global gains: An Olympic play on China tourism

Global gains: An Olympic play on China tourism originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal's (subscription required) "Heard on the Street" column wrote that activist investor Carl Icahn has his eyes set on WCI Communities Inc. (NYSE:WCI).
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reports that BAE Systems Plc. ADR (OTC:BAESY) faces a court challenge from anti-arms groups that want to know how private documents belonging to them ended up in the company's hands.

• Aviation Week reported that Iran said it is set to attempt a space launch. There is speculation it could be a cover for Iran testing longer-range missile strike technologies.
• Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column focused on Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc. ADR (NASDAQ:HMIN), China's top budget hotel chain. The company went public in October and is in the midst of a building boom, leasing properties and adding franchises in fast growing cities across China.
• BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" column highlighted three companies:
• The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) recently hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) to explore strategic alternatives. With sales continuing to deteriorate this puts Goldman Sachs analyst Margaret Mager in an awkward position as she has a "Sell" recommendation on Gap.
• Louisiana-Pacific Corp. (NYSE:LPX) is up from $18 in September to $23.33 now, buoyed by rumors that it's a buyout target and by "signs of a bottoming" in homebuilding.
• Intelli-Check Inc.'s (AMEX:IDN) ID-Check technology has been ordered by the U.S. Defense Dept. and will be embedded in handheld computers used by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.
  

Newspaper wrap-up 1-26-07: Iran to attempt space launch originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Chinese IPO: Home Inns & Hotels Management (HMIN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.