"The last time I focused on commodities was back in 2009 when the recovery was piecing itself together. Now, most of the pieces of the recovery are in place, with the notable misfits being job creation and home values," notes Jim Lowell, a leading specialist on Fidelity funds.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "Today, commodities are in increasingly short supply as increasing global consumer demand, geopolitical disruptions, and even Mother Nature have taken their toll on the supply of goods and services.

Continue reading A Six-Pack of Commodity-Based Funds

A Six-Pack of Commodity-Based Funds originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We own a healthy dose of Fidelity Select Healthcare (FSPHX) in each of our model portfolios," says fund expert Jim Lowell.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "Manager Eddie Yoon and I caught up this month. His command of the sector and his growth-oriented discipline continue to serve us well on both our risk-adjusted and real return fronts/

"Of course, healthcare (representing nearly 16% of our total GDP) is unlike any other sector in the S&P. It is so diversified and global, so interrelated to technology, manufacturing, and R&D, so dependent upon delivering real goods and services for consumer consumption, that it is almost an economy unto itself.

Continue reading Fidelity Select Healthcare (FSPHX): The Right Prescription

Fidelity Select Healthcare (FSPHX): The Right Prescription originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Fidelity Expert Picks 'Manager of the Year and the Decade'

Fidelity Expert Picks 'Manager of the Year and the Decade' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Our annual 'Hot Hands' feature is a simple strategy: buy whichever fund has performed best in the previous year and hold onto it throughout the upcoming one," says fund expert Jim Lowell.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "Over the long haul this strategy has delivered hedge fund-like gains without any of the hedge fund snafus.

"Buying the Hot Hands fund doesn't guarantee you are going to beat the index every year. That's worth repeating; this strategy has not beaten the market every year.

Continue reading Hot Hands: A One-Fund Strategy for 2011

Hot Hands: A One-Fund Strategy for 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"My 2011 stock market 'top pick' would be a 4-fund growth portfolio," suggests Jim Lowell.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "This would include a 30% position in Fidelity Focused Stock (FTQGX) and 30% in the iShares Dow Jones US Index (IYY), coupled with 10% in ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (TBT) and 10% in Fidelity Floating Rate High Income (FFRHX).

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: A Four-Fund Growth Portfolio

Top Picks 2011: A Four-Fund Growth Portfolio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fund guru Jim Lowell has chosen Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX) as his latest spotlight fund of the month; the editor of The Fidelity Investor explains, "The fund continues to be a clear market overweight position for our fundamentally-driven portfolios.

"So far this year, manager Eddie Yoon is returning a shade less than that of the S&P 500; but I don't double him or my premise for holding his fund.

Continue reading Fidelity Health Care (FSPHX): 'Global Growth Story'

Fidelity Health Care (FSPHX): 'Global Growth Story' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Not often discussed, all bonds have at least some interest-rate risk. And by and large, a bond or bond fund's risk is adequately measured by its stated 'duration'," says fund specialist Jim Lowell.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "Even risk-free Treasury bonds do have market risk: they may not have any risk of default, but their prices are bid lower whenever interest rates are rising. In fact, the biggest risk to most types of bonds comes from higher interest rates.

"Interest rate risk hasn't been much of a concern since the end of the last rate hike binge back in 2006. However, it's the things we've forgotten to be concerned about which can bring the greatest downside surprises. There is now certainly a lot more room for rates to go up than for rates to go down.

Continue reading Jim Lowell: Market Hedges from Fidelity

Jim Lowell: Market Hedges from Fidelity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his The Fidelity Investor, the advisor looks to his latest our Spotlight Fund -- Fidelity Health Care (FSPHX), which he believes is well positioned for both its offensive and defensive qualities

Continue reading Fidelity Heath Care (FSPHX): Pure Play in Health Care

Fidelity Heath Care (FSPHX): Pure Play in Health Care originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

While many have jumped on the gold bandwagon, Jim Lowell is taking the opposite approach, selected a bearish gold fund as a top pick for the coming year.

The editor of The ETF Trader looks to Proshares UltraShort Gold (GLL); should gold bullion decline in value, this 2X leveraged fund would be expected to rise twice as much.

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Proshares UltraShort Gold (GLL)

Top Picks for 2010: Proshares UltraShort Gold (GLL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Jim Lowell is a long-standing expert on mutual funds, which a noted specialty regarding the Fidelity family of funds.

In his The Fidelity Investor, he looks to Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX) as his top investment idea for 2010. He suggests, "Investors looking for a one-stop health care shop should pick this option."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX)

Top Picks for 2010: Fidelity Select Health Care (FSPHX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We're seeing tremendous opportunities in China, which should move up regardless of U.S. market gyrations," says Richard Schmidt. In Stellar Stock Alert, he offers his current favorite China plays.

In addition, Jim Trippon, editor of The China Stock Alert, discusses the latest addition to his model portfolio, China's largest life insurance company -- and one with large exposure to Chinese equities.

And finally, fund expert Jim Lowell -- editor of Fidelity Investor -- says, "Investors should be buying Chinese stocks, Hong Kong real estate and Taiwanese technology." He offers some favorite funds for China region exposure.

Continue reading China stocks and funds: Top picks from three advisors

China stocks and funds: Top picks from three advisors originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Inflation protected bonds hold an interesting hybridized place among Fidelity's bond fund lineup," says Jim Lowell in his Fidelity Investor. Here's the fund advisor's look at Fidelity Inflation-Protected Bond Fund (FINPX).

"When fear of recession (and fear while in recession) hold the upper hand, they behave more like longer-term Treasuries.

"When fear of inflation rises, and long term Treasuries go into a tailspin, these bonds benefit from their inflation protected top spin. "Right now, after the strongest general market rally since the Great Depression, things feel less gloomy (even though they still look relatively dicey).

Continue reading Inflation protection from Fidelity

Inflation protection from Fidelity originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"As we head into 2009's turbulent waters, it will take two oars to keep a straight course; as such, for my top pick for 2009, I am selecting a pair of ETFs," notes fund expert Jim Lowell.

In his Marketwatch ETF Trader, the advisor explains, "iShares Dow Jones U.S. Total Market (NYSE: IYY) covers the market broadly, while WisdomTree International Small Cap Dividend Fund (NYSE: DLS) has a more focused manner."

"Buying the broader market in 2008 was a sucker's bet; make that a sucker punch. But in 2009, it's neither an act of courage nor a fool's errand to 'buy the market.'

"After all, the likelihood of the markets selling into oblivion has arguably been priced into current levels, making the total market a deeply discounted stream worth stepping into in 2009.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: DJ Total Market (IYY) and Int'l Small Cap Dividend (DLS)

Top Stock Picks '09: DJ Total Market (IYY) and Int'l Small Cap Dividend (DLS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

As his top pick for 2009, Jim Lowell -- in his Fidelity Investor newsletter -- opts for a pair of funds that together offer broad market coverage: Fidelity Focused (FTQGX) and Fidelity Low-Priced (FLPSX).

The advisor explains, ""These two fund picks reflect a balanced mix of both offense and defense -- using two managers with decidedly different approaches and investment styles.

"At Fidelity Investor we always 'Buy the manager, not the fund!' Our proprietary manager rankings consistently list Stephen DuFour -- manager at Fidelity Focused Stock -- as a top ranked stock picker (based on his ability to persistently lose less in the downdrafts and consistently outperform on the upside).

"And while losing significantly less than the S&P 500 was 2008's benchmark for success, 2009 is shaping up to be a more balanced trade sheet where I think gains will likely win out.

"DuFour normally invests in 30 to 80 stocks at any one time. His stock picks hold no allegiance to either a simple style box or a singular capitalization range.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Fidelity Focused (FTQGX) and Low-Priced (FLPSX)

Top Stock Picks '09: Fidelity Focused (FTQGX) and Low-Priced (FLPSX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The new administration will likely soon launch a new spending program to put people back to work and boost the economy," says Jim Powell, adding, "That's even more likely now that the financial crisis is in full swing and growth is declining."

In his Global Changes & Opportunities Report he looks at General Cable (NYSE: BGC) as a play on the rebuilding of the nation's electric power grid.

"Politicians at all levels have also voiced strong support for rebuilding our woefully inadequate infrastructure. Because building roads, bridges, electrical grids, and so on, will employ many voters, I think allocations for such projects will go to the top of the government's spending list.

"That's especially true since infrastructure projects will also funnel billions of dollars to state and local governments that are facing hard times. All in all, modernizing the the electric power grid should be another very pro?table long-term investment.

"I believe the most promising beneficiary of the electric power project will be General Cable. The company produces products for a wide variety of applications including large cables for long distribution networks.

Continue reading General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid

General Cable (BCC): Power play on power grid originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What sectors are poised to outperform as a result of a Barack Obama presidency? To find out, we turn to fund expert Jim Lowell who recent prepared a report highlighting the top ETFs based on each candidate.

In The Forbes ETF Trader, he offers several top picks including ETFs that are focused on biotechnology and medical research, industrials, clean environment and clean energy technologies.

"SPDR Biotech (ASE: XBI) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index which is made up of the biotechnology sector of the S&P Total Markets Index.

"It began trading in January 2006. The top ten holdings are Genentech, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Celgene, Genzyme, Biogen Idec, Imclone, Cephalon, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

"Vanguard Industrials (NYSE: VIS) seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International US Investable Market Industrials Index.

Continue reading Obama Picks: Fund expert's top ETFs

Obama Picks: Fund expert's top ETFs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jim Lowell is known for his expertise in assessing mutual funds; in particular, he is the newsletter advisory world's leading authority on Fidelity funds.

In his Fidelity Investor, he recently conducted his mid-year ranking of Fidelity managers, and based on these results, offers four favorite funds offering global diversifcation.

"Stephen DuFour, manager of Fidelity Focused Stock (FTQGX), is no stranger to our ranking top notches. He took over this fund in March last year, and turned its performance up a notch (finishing the year up 17% vs. .5.5% for his S&P 500 benchmark): Bam!

"With 52 holdings, this fund is focused. His top 10 basically says it all - a diversified play on global growth in a stock picker's portfolio: Southwestern Energy, Norfolk Southern, Range Resources, T. Rowe Price, NRG Energy, Unilever, Eaton, Cisco, Cabot Oil & Gas, and Apple.

"Tom Soviero, manager at Fidelity Leveraged Company Stock (FLVCX), has jumped from the third spot in the December rankings to the top spot this time around.

"His top-ranked status reflects his stock picking expertise. The portfolio continues to become even more concentrated in his top 10 picks (29.4% of the fund's assets now vs. 27% six months ago).

Continue reading Four favorite Fidelity funds

Four favorite Fidelity funds originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As a long-standing authority on Fidelity funds, advisor Jim Lowell has extraordinary access to the top managers within the Fidelity family.

Here, the editor of Fidelity Investor offers his personal outlook on Fidelity Magellan (FMAGX) -- which he considers a "smart buy" -- plus highlights from an in-depth interview he recently conducted with Magellan fund manager Harry Lange.

"Magellan is a buy for growth. Make that global growth. Indeed, I would consider this fund a 'stellar' long-term buy. The fund turned $10,000 into over $16 million since its launch back in 1963 compared to that same $10,000 over the same long-term time period being turned into only $800,000 if it had been invested in the S&P 500.

"Magellan is currently considered a large cap growth fund. But Lange can, has and will continue to invest in either growth or value stocks in a range that reaches across the mid- and small-cap borders if it suits him. Foreign holdings make up 26.5% of the portfolio.

"The fund's top ten holdings: Nokia, Corning, Canadian Natural Resources, Staples, Monsanto, Google, Applied Materials, America Movil, Suncor Energy, and Allergan." Meanwhile, in Lowell's latest issue of Fidelity Investor, he interviews Harry Lange. Here is Lowell's Q&A with the Magellan manager:

Continue reading Q&A with Fidelity Magellan's Harry Lange

Q&A with Fidelity Magellan's Harry Lange originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 May 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fidelity Select Healthcare (FSPHX) is among the latest additions to the model portfolio maintained by Jim Lowell to his Fidelity Investor. Here's the reasoning behind this "defensive" fund selection.

"I remain bullish long-term, both with regard to the global economy and markets and with specific regard to our own. But, I also remain cautious about any immediate solution to solve what could be even more meddlesome underlying issues with regard to our economy and markets.

"Today's potential for 'recession' now looks more highly correlated to the 1989-1991 recession; driven largely by a speculative housing bubble and the S&L and Equity Line selling frenzy. We're prepared.

"Meanwhile, we have added Fidelity Select Healthcare to our portfolio. Select Healthcare is managed by Matt Sabel. Matt has done what few other recent managers of this fund have been able to do - he's outperformed his
benchmark MSCI US IM Health Care index since taking over the fund in August 2006.

Continue reading Fidelity expert 'selects' Select Healthcare (FSPHX)

Fidelity expert 'selects' Select Healthcare (FSPHX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"In the wake of the worst sell-off since 9/11 for most major European and Asian markets, our Fed finally stopped telling us that the building is on fire and entered the building to rescue what it can with an emergency 75 basis point rate cut," notes Jim Lowell.

The editor of Fidelity Investor explains, "The uppshot is that while the rate cut comes too late to cure what's ailing the markets, it does come as a welcome bowl of chicken soup which will help re-nourish the markets over time; look for more bowls of soup (in the form of more rate cuts) to come."

Lowell continues, "For long-term investors like us, time is on our side. After today's sell off, the standard value indicator for whether the markets are over- or under-valued continues to make the case for stocks being the best long-term buy.

"The P/E on the S&P 500 is hovering around 13 - it was north of 16 just a month back; but even a P/E of 16 is a value call. Bonds of every type and duration, on the other hand, are selling at historically high prices and yielding a
paltry sum. Meantime,

"the US dollar, dinged in knee-jerk reaction to today's Fed rate cut, is likely to gain strength as we wend our way through the next several months since the reality of recession is no longer a US but now a global phenomenon and that bell will toll for foreign currencies.

"Against this backdrop, the dollar will be a solid buy for near-term volatility, bonds will trade on the psychology of fear and uncertainty and US stocks will be the best value for long-term money."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers the latest market commentary and favorite investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

US stocks still remain 'best value' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.