"Shanda Interactive, a Chinese purveyor of interactive entertainment and media technology, offered U.S. investors a piece of its video game business, Shanda Games (NASDAQ: GAME)," notes Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, he explains, "Shanda Games has its risks but also packs a lot of potential, especially as a speculative China play.

"GAME was one of the most widely-anticipated IPOs of 2009. The buzz surrounding Shanda Games was so intense that the company raised the offering from 63 million to 83.5 million shares just to meet demand.

"Banks had taken a brutal beating over the last two years was brutal; the S&P Sector SPDR Financials dropped 72.0% from its high last September to its low in March," notes Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, he explains, "One bank in particular is exerting itself again as a dominant player: Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC)." Here's his review.

"The painful declines in bank stocks appear to have stopped for now, as bank stocks have exploded off the March lows. As we've observed, financials have 'friends in high places.'

"Banks in general are showing promise as credit becomes easier. There's still a long way to go for complete recovery, but the trend is pointing up.

"Some sectors tend to do better than others in tough times; biotechnology often surprises investors in good times and bad," suggests Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge advisory service, the growth stock advisor looks to Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG), a player in developing cancer treatments. Here's his review.

"This sometimes-perilous market niche can make or break a portfolio depending on several factors: drug pipeline, continued investment, market factors, and government approvals.

"However, despite the risks, there are times when we believe that individual biotech stocks make sense -- such as our latest recommendation for Celgene.

"Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is a well-run company with a fortress-like balance sheet," says growth stock expert Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge he suggests, "Maicrosoft's war chest of cash and their ability to sparkle with products like Bing makes the company an attractive long-term bet." Here's the advisor's review.

"Microsoft was once the kind of stock investors dreamed of owning. Rising thousands of percent from its IPO in the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, Microsoft was at one point the largest U.S. company by market cap.

"As technology evolved and Microsoft matured, Wall Street turned its focus to 'sexier' areas of technology like Internet stocks. Operating system software wasn't the in-thing anymore. Microsoft became a value stock rather than a growth play.

"Health care reform could mean opportunities for astute investors," says Brandon Clay in his Invest With an Edge.

Here, eyes two biotech ETFs that "should be on everyone's watch list." The advisor notes, "With health care on the front burner in Washington, these biotechnology ETFs may finally be ready to pop."

"Investors in health care should think outside the realm of traditional pharmaceutical companies and health insurers. Those sectors are each facing headwinds that make stock picking difficult.

"In addition, several big pharma companiesare desperate to reload their empty pipelines in the face of increased competition from generic drug makers.

"China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) could be one of the best ways to play China's astounding economic growth," says Brandon Clay in Invest with an Edge. Here's the growth advisor's review.

"With the world's largest population as its market, the mobile phone industry in China is set to soar. This makes China Unicom a compelling play. The firm has 21% market share in China.

"China Unicom's vice president recently said the company is targeting subscriber growth of 20 million to 30 million within a year. To put that into context, Verizon Wireless, the largest mobile phone carrier in the U.S., had 72.1 million subscribers at the end of last year.

"Certain commodities are getting hot again; both copper and gold have the wind at their backs in this market, while uranium has also caught our attention," says Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, he explains, "One such company that should gain from a spike in gold, uranium, and copper is Vancouver-based Fronteer Development Group (NYSE: FRG).

"Uranium is a perennially despised substance with a back story in catastrophe, espionage, protests, and nuclear fallout. But this sometimes-sordid history may prove too weak an objection for the outstanding potential in uranium.

"Who will gain from the ongoing troubles at the Big-3 automakers in the US?" asks growth stock specialist Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, the growth stock advisors takes a look at Tata Motors Ltd. (NYSE: TTM) which is expected to launch the world's cheapest car. Here's the advisor's review.

"Tata Motors is part of one of the largest manufacturing entities on the planet, will soon release the world's cheapest automobile in the United States.

"Debuting at $2000, the Tata Nano is set for a July 2009 delivery. Tata already has 1 million reservations for their mini-car. If they could deliver, it would easily become the best-selling car this year.

"Now could be your chance to pick up Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR) at a bargain," Brandon Clay pointing to the firm whose macbhines turn coins into cash. In his Invest with an Edge he states, "We recommend the stock as a recession-resistant, consumer play in a shaky market."

"There are three reasons why we like Constar. First, it's a consumer-savvy play. The company is built on perennial consumer-driven services.

"Their flagship Coinstar machine turns idle change into cash. For every dollar consumers drop into the grate, Coinstar makes $0.089. It may not seem like much, but this simple idea grew CSTR from an idea in 1992, to a $912 million company last year.

This post is part of a 12-article feature that can be read here: Today's best income ideas.

"Though all the king's horses and all the king's men attempted to piece together some confidence in the market indexes, it hasn't been enough," says Brandon Clay.

In his Invest with an Edge, he suggests, "Investors should consider safe alternatives for this risky environment. One such ideas is a unique muni bond ETF -- Market Vectors Pre-Refunded Municipal Index Fund (NYSE: PRB)."

Two leading growth stock expert, Brandon Clay, editor of Invest with an Edge, and Alexander Green, editor of The Oxford Club, turn to automated blood testing equipment maker Immucor (NASDAQ: BLUD) as a recession-resistant buy.

Clay suggest, "A good bet is to go with the strongest stock in that particular sector at the time of your pickThat way, the company you select at least has the momentum of the sector backing it. Typically the medical industry performs better than the overall market in a downturn. This recession has been no different.

"As we dug deeper into health care, one company surfaced that was worth our attention. Immucor is a blood testing equipment manufacturer specializing in pre-transfusion diagnostics.

"Established in 1982, they brought their first patent to market four years later. Since then they've become a leader in blood diagnostics and blood bank technology.

"If you're going to stay invested, you should look to defensive sectors," explain Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay, who point to consumer staples as a top pick for the current market environment.

In their Invest with an Edge, the advisors explain, "Perhaps the best way to stay defensive is with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP), an exchange traded fund.

"In a bear market, opportunities are usually limited to certain sectors. Surveying the investment horizon, we think the consumer staples sector has the best opportunity for growth in this economy.

"Regardless how the economy acts, people still eat. Consumers may not shop at Whole Foods, but they'll still buy groceries. Companies like Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Safeway (NYSE: SWY) will continue to rake in revenues from hungry customers.

"In addition, these companies should continue to receive additional revenue from consumers who normally shop at specialty stores, but can no longer afford to.

"Consumers may not be shopping at Sharper Image any more, but there are other creature comforts that will be difficult for Americans to abandon.

"Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) will still sell products during a prolonged downturn. In addition, companies providing toiletries and convenience like Procter and Gamble and CVS Pharmacy stand to do well during a shifty economy.

"Although equities tend to have attractive multi-year growth rates, there is always risk," caution Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

In their Invest with an Edge, they explain, "That's why investors have been taking a second look at bonds, specifically municipal bonds." Here's an ETF offering exposure to the muni bond sector.

"Affectionately called 'munis', municipal bonds have enjoyed a resurgence among retail investors, who are buying munis for three reasons:

1) Munis Have High Yield & No Taxes in Difficult Markets

"Municipal bonds are unique investment vehicles. They offer yields, but the interest is not taxed by the IRS. That way, the 'effective' yield for the muni is often higher than on taxable bonds. Moreover, as prices for munis have been falling, yields have been rising.

2) Munis Are Relatively Safe Investments

"When you're buying a muni bond, you're actually loaning to a state/local government or their agencies. Although cities can go bankrupt – thus preventing you from receiving back your initial investment – at least we can vote on governors and mayors.

"As a result, munis are a safer investment than many corporate bonds. Munis are one way for investors to find safety in this market.

In the latest annual survey in Barron's of professional investors Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was rated the world's most respected company," reports Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

In Invest With an Edge, the advisors look at the 123-company, which he selects as " a solid healthcare pick in a strong long-term uptrend."

"This New Jersey-based company has come a long way since corner drugstores sold their baby powder. Beginning as a pioneer in sterile medical supplies, they expanded into pharmaceuticals and related consumer products.

"Over the years, they've released ubiquitous brands such as Band-Aid, Rogaine, Listerine, Tylenol, even Splenda. Johnson and Johnson has become a household name.

"However, Johnson & Johnson is a healthcare company with deeper product lines; it is ivided into three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices & Diagnostics.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"To play the classic semiconductor-cycle (buying on a down-cycle and selling after an up-cycle), go with NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA)," say Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

The editors of All Star Investor explain, "This graphic chip manufacturer stumbled earlier this year, but we find a compelling a turnaround story." Here's his review.

"This is a difficult environment for short-term investors. When the Dow jumps up 200 points one day, and crashes 200 points the next, it's hard to tell where to turn. Calling bottoms is nearly impossible

"In this market, we have become value investors -- seeking an inexpensive company that's almost-undiscovered by mainstream investors.

"Technology is not typically known as a place for value. In fact, quite the opposite. Since the Tech crash, a shift has happened. Certain semiconductors have been hammered over the past several years -- especially in the last 12 months.

"One of those, a leader in graphics chips, has been especially beaten down. NVIDIA fell from a 52-week high of $39.67 last October. The Santa Clara-based chip designer is now trading around $12.00 today. Did it really deserve the punishment the market delivered? We don't think so.