"The current market volatility makes us want to run for shelter, a safe haven," notes Richard Lehmann, editor of The ETF Investor. One such haven he sees is health science, and offers an ETF for the sector.

"Other than Treasury bonds, which have their own risks, cash is certainly the safest. One might think of gold or natural resources as a safe haven, but once economies slow down, demand there will fall as well. Either way these safe havens are likely to be volatile in the near future.

"The health care sector is not as dependent on the overall economy and may be a safe harbor for now. There are a number of ETF's and closed end funds that cover this sector.

"The one we find most compelling is the Blackrock Health Sciences Trust (NYSE: BME) mainly because it captures the value in volatility by writing options on their holdings. The option writing activity moderates price swings and adds income to the fund.

"It invests in healthcare providers, healthcare equipment, pharmaceuticals and biotech companies. The fund is currently trading at $27.80 a -6.84% discount from its net asset value. The yield is 5.53%, which helps as an additional cushion. The expense ratio is high at 1.13%, but is somewhat offset by the -6.84% discount from net asset value."

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

Blackrock Health Sciences (BME): Safe haven in a 'healthly' ETF originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Brazil is like a rock, a steady democratic economy expanding under the rule of law," notes Richard Lehmann. Here's an recent pick from his Forbes/Lehmann ETF Investor service.

The advisor explains, "The U.S. looks at Brazil's pledge to end its dependence on foreign oil and sees that they accomplished that goal. The U.S. on the other hand has only paid lip service to and talked about energy independence for the past 30 years, while watching our dependency only deepen."

The strength of the Brazilian economy is in raw materials, he points out, specifically metals and mining. Fortunately, he suggests, worldwide demand for their products has been strong.

The advisor states, "The iShares MSCI Brazil Index (ASE: EWZ) is the only game in town for cost-effective and broad-based exposure to Brazil. As a result, he says, the relatively high .074% expense ratio is worth it. Meanwhile, he notes that the fund --- which holds $2.7 billion in securities -- captures about 85% of the Brazilian market on a cap-weighted basis.

For more stock picks from the leading financial newsletter advisors, visit Steven Halpern's free daily website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

Brazil: 'Steady as a rock' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 May 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While an individual investor might not be comfortable on their own using a buy-write call strategy income expert Richard Lehmann uncovers a closed-end fund that allows the investor to easily participate in this othereise sophisticated options approach that is used to generate high income.

In his Income Security Advisor ETF Investor he explains, "Buy-write funds have the advantage of moderating market swings because of the covered call writing strategy and because the funds have a yield that tends to support the stock price."

He notes that the BlackRock family of buy-write funds have taken a hit in the last month, which he says is "for no discernable reason." The result? "We think these are great buys at current prices," he says.

In particular, he likes the BlackRock World Investment Trust (NYSE:BWC) which he notes invests in global equity securities, using a buy-writes strategy to enhance its dividend payouts."

According to Lehmann, the fund invests at least 75% of its assets in equities and may invest up to 25% of its assets in income producing securities such as bonds and preferreds. He adds that the fund invests 29% of its funds in the U.S. with the next highest country the United Kingdom at 12%. The remainder is invested in concentrations of less than 8%.

He explains, "The fund writes covered calls on about 45% of its holdings. The fund invests in various sectors with the highest concentration in finance and banking." Lehmann points out that the fund trades at a 3.07% discount to its net asset value and yields 8.32%.

For more stock picks from the leading financial newsletter advisors, visit Steven Halpern's free daily website, TheStockAdvisors.com.

Bet on Blackrock fund for high income originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

Penn West Energy Trust (NYSE: PWE) is a top conservative idea for 2007 from income expert Richard Lehmann, editor of The Forbes/Lehmann Income Securities Investor. He explains, "I am a steadfast believer in the Canadian oil and gas trusts, despite the Canadian government's decision, on October 31, 2006, to begin taxing the trusts as regular corporations after 2010.

"Currently, the trusts pay out income to investors as dividends and are not taxed on the corporate level. In addition, these dividends are treated as qualified dividend income for U.S. investors and subject to the preferential 15% tax rate.

"Recent proposed changes in the Canadian tax law slammed all trusts and brought PWE down from $37 to a current price of $31. This brings the yield up to almost 12%. I like Penn West because it is one of the largest trusts, with over nine years of proven reserves and extensive holdings of unproven ones.

"They have four years to restructure their finances to offset the increase in taxes -- something that may not even come about if past lobbying efforts are any indication.

"Given that the current dividend represents only 63% of cash flow, the monthly dividend is safe from cuts down to a $50 a barrel price for oil. Investors are likely to sell shares of Penn West to lock-in tax losses in December, but I see price appreciation early in 2007 as investors buy in for the irresistible yield."

Top Picks 2007: Lehmann still "trusts" Penn West Energy Trust originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.