For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"The era of personalized medicine is arriving and Genomic Health (NASDAQ: GHDX) is one of the first companies to provide both a successful product and an investment opportunity," says Dave Dyer in his Dave Dyer's Newsletter, referring to his more speculative favorite for 2008.

"The company's genetic test provides a way to determine whether women with early stage breast cancer would benefit from chemotherapy. For 70% of people with early stage breast cancer, minimally invasive surgery and radiation is all that is needed.

"The other 30% have a more aggressive type of cancer and would benefit from also receiving chemotherapy. An objective, quantifiable test based on the genetic characteristics of a specific patient can determine with very high probability which group a patient belongs to.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Our favorite speculative pick for 2008 is (NASDAQ: IVGN)," says Daniel Frishberg, editor of The MoneyMan Report and host of BizRadio.

"Invitrogen is a $4.5 billion company that markets tools in kit form and provides other research products and services to corporate, academic, and government entities. The company has over 25,000 products.

"The company is also involved in stem cells, which are cells in an early stage human embryo that have the potential to turn into any other type of cells, e.g., heart, nerve, kidney, pancreas, etc.

"There has been much debate about stem cell research due to the killing of an embryo. However, a major breakthrough suggests that stem cells can be created from your own skin cells.

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"Our favorite conservative pick for 2008 is Home Depot (NYSE: HD)," says Daniel Frishberg, editor of The MoneyMan Report and host of BizRadio.

"This is a stock that has been beaten down due to the weak housing market. We believe, based on the fact that it owns most of the real estate its stores sit on and these are typically in the best areas of town, that it's undervalued.

"With new management in there and a housing market that will stabilize, home improvement will do very well over the next several years. Home Depot typically trades at 14X cash flow since 1995. Based on that one parameter, the stock could be a double over the next couple of years.

"The company's balance sheet is in excellent shape at this point. We believe most of the bad news is priced in and with a Fed that will continue to cut interest rates, Home Depot will be an economically sensitive stock that will benefit. In our view, this is a 2-3 year hold.

A trio of leading advisors are looking outside the US for opportnity in the telecom sector: Nick Vardy sees potential with Telefonica S.A. (NYSE: TEF), David Fried looks south of the border to Telefonos de Mexico (NYSE: TMX) and Dave Dyer recommends the more diversified Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund (ASE: ETF).

In his Global Bull Market Alert, Nick Vardy explains, "Spanish telecom group Telefonica S.A. is like a corporate conquistador, exploiting its historical links to expand into Latin America. This new Spanish explorer is reaping rich profits for itself and its shareholders.

"Telefonica's global footprint extends across three continents and 23 countries with a total population of 670 million. This conquistador planted its first flag in Latin America 15 years ago and today is the leading telecom in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

"For an organization that is already the fifth-biggest telecom company in the world with close to 207 million customers, Telefonica's profits are still expanding at a breathtaking rate.

"Just recently, Telefonica announced that its third-quarter net profit rose 39% year-on-year. Overall, net profit jumped to €4.02 billion from €2.9 billion a year earlier. Also important to us, Telefonica is a stock that has held up remarkably well despite the recent market jitters, recently hitting a record high. We recommend buying the shares at market."

This article is part of a 20 article special report on "Metals, miners and money".

"Gold is a beneficiary of lower interest rates," says Daniel Frishberg, host of BizRadio and editor of The MoneyMan Gold & Oil Report.

He explains, "Gold has closed at his highest level in three decades. The precious metals market senses inflation is higher and economic growth slower than the official government numbers.

"With the price of oil at a record high and food inflation in a double digit zooming up, government statisticians will have us believe third quarter inflation was only 0.8%, the lowest level in 40 years.

"The gold market is not buying the government numbers. Regardless of what Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke says about containing inflationary pressures or what Treasury Secretary Paulson says about supporting a strong dollar policy, the U.S. dollar is being sacrificed to save the banking industry and prevent an economic slowdown and/or housing market collapse or even a recession.

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.

First Trust Nasdaq Technology (NASDAQ: QTEC) is the top speculative idea for 2007 from Daniel Frishberg, BizRadio host and editor of TheMoneyMan.com.

He explains, "If all you had done over the past fifty years was buy stocks on the midterm election and sell on the presidential election, you'd be worth twice what you are now! Now we all get another chance.

"Seven years ago, stock prices were just about where they are now, but many companies were half the size and making half the money they make today. Seven years ago, stocks were expensive, and bonds were cheap. Today the tables have turned and we're set to profit.

"Some commentators are suggesting that the Wall Street phenomenon known as 'window dressing' may be a factor in this latest stock price surge. However, we think the rally is too broad to be just 'window dressing.' It is better to look at the rush of foreign money due to the falling dollar, the improving economy, and the end of interest rate hikes.