"BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) should be part of any investor's portfolio," says leading energy and resources expert Elliott Gue. The editor of The Energy Strategist explains, "China is both the world's largest coal producer and its preeminent consumer. Demand for coal in Asia is growing rapidly, and China is moving from being an important net exporter to a net importer."

In light of the tight supply demand balance in Asia, he states that the obvious question is where all those coal imports will come from. One country he says that will dominate the export trade for the foreseeable future is Australia.

Gue says, "Australia has large reserves and production capabilities. And it is located relatively close to their key export markets. Meanwhile, Australia is a politically stable country with a solid legal system and a large, liquid stock market. In short: Australia is a great and politically safe place to invest."

Australian-based BHP Billiton is the world's largest producer of exported thermal and coking coal, generating around 37 million tons of met coal and 88 million tons of thermal coal annually, according to the advisor.

Continue reading BHP Billiton (BHP): 'A global resource play for any portfolio'

BHP Billiton (BHP): 'A global resource play for any portfolio' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"One of the strongest investment themes is the global commodities supercycle," notes Nick Vardy. He explains, "Now is a good time to pick out potential winners such as Australian mining giant, BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE: BHP)." The

The editor of The Global Bull Market Alert says, "I expect BHP Billiton to perform particularly strongly as we move closer to the traditional fourth quarter rally."

For one thing, he notes, BHP's retiring CEO Chip Goodyear reassured investors that the recent financial market turbulence would not hurt BHP's growth -- and that commodity prices would remain strong for some time.

He suggests, "BHP recently had conducted a survey of its major customers around the world to see if their demand for commodities would be dented by the fallout from the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis. The results? The United States was slowing down, but in developing economies such as China and India it's 'essentially business as usual.'

Continue reading BHP Billiton (BHP): Invest in 'commodity supercycle'

BHP Billiton (BHP): Invest in 'commodity supercycle' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"If you are missing exposure to infrastructure, please head straight for the closed-end Macquarie First Trust Global Infrastructure Fund (NYSE: MFD)," says Vivian Lewis, editor of Global Investing.

Macquarie/First Trust invests only in infrastructure and utilities stocks. The advisor explains, "By prospectus, it is a a non-diversified portfolio of equity, debt, preferred or convertible securities, and other instruments (which may include Canadian income trusts and Australian stapled securities)."

She continues, "These holdings produce income or assets from managing, owning or operating infrastructure and utilities assets in a group of 'safe' countries. MFD also invests in infrastructure senior secured floating-rate loans."

Lewis points out the the parent company, Macquarie, has been an Australian victim of U.S. sub-prime housing loans gone sour. She notes, "The parent company may have to cover losses from two funds for Australians invested in the U.S. sub-prime market."

However, she emphasizes, "The U.S. fund that we are recommending is protected from these problems. This fund is not investing in real estate but rather in infrastructure. The sub-prime issues are bad for the management company, the Australian financial sector, and even the Austrailian dollar. But not for MFD, which is a screaming bargain."

Each day, Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com features the latest investment ideas and market commentary from the financial newsletter community.

Macquarie (MFD): Build value with infrastructure fund originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:40:00 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.

Sydney, Australia's Macquarie Infrastructure Company Trust (NYSE: MIC) is the top conservative idea for 2007 from Neil George, editor of Personal Finance, while Macquarie Infrastructure Group (OTC: MCQRF), is his top speculative play.

The advisor explains, "Infrastructure is the foundation of our economy. And whether owned by privateers or the public, we need more and better roads, bigger airports, better power and water systems. And there are companies getting the bids over and over again to make it all happen.

"Sydney, Australia might not come to the forefront of your mind when it comes to our nation's infrastructure, but that's where most of the capital is being pooled together to quietly gobble up deal after deal.

"Parent company, Macquarie Bank, first cut its teeth on financing and investing in several projects in its own back yard for years before taking its deal-making skills on the road.

Continue reading Top Picks 2007: Neil George banks on infrastructure

Top Picks 2007: Neil George banks on infrastructure originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Dec 2006 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.