Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Jon Markman, editor of Strategic Advantage, chose banking software company FundTech Ltd. (NASDAQ: FNDT), which rose 41% as of June 1, 2007. The advisor has just sold the stock from his model portfolio.

For his new favorite idea for the balance of 2007, the advisor looks to Hercules Offshore Inc. (NASDAQ: HERO). He explains, "Energy companies' shares might seem high to you now, but you ain't seen nothin' yet. When investors collectively decide that the new 'band' for oil prices is $50 to $65 rather than $35 to $50, then virtually all energy stocks are in for a major upward move.

"In this scenario, every subsector of the energy industry will move higher: Oil and gas drillers, services providers, explorers, refiners, pipeline owners, and the major integrators. We are just in the third inning of the game now, and it should continue to surprise people.

"All this is good news for the energy companies, but not such great news for the average consumer. We know how gasoline prices are breaking budgets.

"So in order to put some of the cash you're shelling out at the pump each week back into your pockets, I've been suggesting a couple of other energy companies that are set to profit from higher oil and natural gas prices as well as drilling rates.

Two of the best stock pickers in the advisory world are reasserting their buy recommendations for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). Jon Markman, editor of Strategic Advantage says, "Apple is one of my favorite ideas for new money right now."

Toby Smith, editor of Changewave Investing notes, "Investors how have one more chance to jump in to Apple before the shares take off for the moon after the launch of the most-anticipated telecommunications device in history -- the iPhone."

Jon Markman notes that in recent years, much of Apple's performance has been driven by the iPod/iTunes phenomenon. Therefore, he says, it's easy to forget about Apple's roots in computing.

But, he suggests, the latest quarter demonstrated how important the Mac lineup remains to the company's bottom line, and how much success it is having selling them.

Markman adds that globally, Apple shipped out 1.5 million Macs during the quarter, which is up a whopping 36% over last year. He says, "This is the highest growth rate in six quarters and is even more impressive considering that this quarter represents the three-month post-holiday doldrums for retail sales."

He adds, "If your jaw hasn't dropped yet, you can also compare this to the PC industry's 10.9% global growth rate or the mediocre 3.6% growth seen here in the U.S. Moreover, margins on these new Macs came in much higher than expected, thanks to super low flash memory costs."

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 now I am highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"In the commodities bull market that has shaken the foundations of Wall Street over the past year, Australia has been in the center of the action," says Jon Markman, editor of Strategic Investing.

"Although its reputation among the public primarily rests on its sunny beaches, broad smiles, and big beers, the interior of the country has turned out to be one big gold mine. Or iron ore mine. Or coal mine. Or uranium mine. Or ... well, you get the picture. Australia is a floating rock for the ages.

"This kind of wealth generation has a lot of consequences in the economy, not the least of which is ignition of the entrepreneurial spirit. Employees and vendors get rich, and decide to go out and start or expand new businesses of their own.

"And that has certainly happened in Australia, as small-business borrowing is soaring in the country. According to Bloomberg News, bank lending is rising at its fastest pace in 16 years. Capacity at Australian factories reached a record low in the fourth quarter of last year, spurring these new investments.

"Banks are always a big beneficiary of increased business, as they make a lot of money on lending so long as their own borrowing costs stay relatively benign. We actually have two names in the Australian banking sector that I hold on my elite Core Select portfolio list.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Oshkosh Truck (NYSE: OSK) is the favorite conservative idea for 2007 from Jon Markman, editor of Strategic Advantage. "I do not expect a recession within a six-month horizon, which increases my confidence in picking a cyclical company such as Oshkosh -- especially since there is so much fear that the economy is headed straight for a recession.

"OSK -- which designs and manufactures a wide range of commercial, fire, emergency, and military trucks and truck bodies under several trademarks, including Oshkosh, Pierce, McNeilus, Medtec, Jerr-Dan, BAI, London, and Geesink -- is now cheap on every valuation measure that I consider important.

"The stock has fallen about 35% from its May highs in recent weeks. Investors were worried about its future growth rate, and there has been some skepticism about a large acquisition that was announced a month ago.

"Moreover, next year it will likely qualify as one of my Core Select List stocks, as it has provided positive earnings, revenue, cash flow, and capital appreciation for the past nine years straight. The company earns a high return on capital, and is one that I believe you can own for years. You should start buying OSK for a late 2007 target of $67 and a $95 target for 2009."

To see Jon's favorite speculative idea for 2007, click here.

Each year Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, surveys the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is part of his 24th annual Top Picks Report.

Fundtech Ltd (NASDAQ: FNDT), an information technology firm focused on banks, is the favorite idea for 2007 for conservative investors from Jon Markman. The editor of Strategic Advantage says, "Based in Israel, the small cap company is run primarily out of offices in New Jersey, and is a great play on the globalization of business in general.

"Despite its small size, with a market cap of just $180 million, it sells its cash- and payment-management software and services to dozens of leading U.S. and European banks, and has deep and growing relationships with two of the very largest: Citicorp in New York and HSBC Holdings (HBA) in London.

"The European Central Bank has issued regulations demanding that banks in all European Union countries charge customers the same amount to move money internationally as domestically. Fundtech has a product that addresses these challenges.