McDonald's (MCD) is looking to expand its footprint in Russia by increasing its store count by 15%, or about 40 new locations, in an effort to tap the growing demand for fast food. McDonald's competes with Wendy's (WEN), Subway, Burger King (BKC), and Yum! Brands (YUM) in the fast-food market and is the market leader with about 19% share. The company also competes with Starbucks (SBUX) in the specialty coffee market.

We have $78.40 price estimate for McDonald's stock, which is slightly ahead of market price.

Continue reading McDonald's Invests in Russian Growth as Part of EM Focus

McDonald's Invests in Russian Growth as Part of EM Focus originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Unilever (UL) is the second largest consumer goods company in the world after Procter & Gamble (PG) and sells everything from soaps and deodorants to salad dressings, ice-cream and tea beverages. Its portfolio of billion-dollar brands includes Dove, Lux, Axe, Rexona, Surf, CloseUp, Signal, Wall's, Lipton and Vaseline, to name a few.

Our price estimate for Unilever stands at $35.14, well ahead of market price.

Continue reading Unilever Delivers Volume Growth in 2010; Pricing Recovery Could Add Further Upside

Unilever Delivers Volume Growth in 2010; Pricing Recovery Could Add Further Upside originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amid the political and social uprisings in the Middle East, and union protests in the U.S., a recent speech by a pivotal U.S. policy maker received little attention, but it's one that investors should review.

In a speech before the recent G-20 meeting, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged emerging market nations to address the flood of money streaming into their markets.

Continue reading Bernanke: Emerging Markets Need to Address Capital Flows

Bernanke: Emerging Markets Need to Address Capital Flows originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For investors, the emerging markets have been a great place to find profits. No doubt, there are certainly risks, such as seen recently with the market turmoil in Egypt, but a diversified portfolio should solve these problems. Of course, it also helps to have lots of exposure to markets like China and Brazil.

According to Societe Generale, emerging markets may pale in comparison to the growth in commodities. Interestingly enough, it is rising commodities prices that is putting inflationary pressure on these countries. In other words, it is getting tougher for companies to pass along higher raw materials costs. As a result, there has been a rash of interest rate increases.

Continue reading Commodities Even Better Than Emerging Markets Stocks?

Commodities Even Better Than Emerging Markets Stocks? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bond money managers are usually glum. Then again, they need to be cautious since they are locking up money at fixed rate of returns. In a volatile world, this can certainly be a risky proposition.

So it should be no surprise that the biggest bond money manager, Bill Gross, is not enthusiastic about 2011. He leads the Pacific Investment Management Co., which has $1.2 trillion under management.

Continue reading Bill Gross Opines on 2011

Bill Gross Opines on 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Food producer Tyson Foods (TSN), first discussed here on May 11, 2009, at a price of $12.35, finally appears to have found some traction, and I obviously still like the shares at this stage.

The shares of Tyson downtrended in bear-hug fashion for much of 2010, walking down to about $15 from $20. However, since then the shares found support at $15 and have since popped back up above $17, including a nice move above the key, 50-day moving average.

Continue reading Tyson Foods: Is a Bottom in Place at $15?

Tyson Foods: Is a Bottom in Place at $15? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Turkey is a country that nearly everybody overlooks -- but probably not much longer," says Jim Powell, editor of Global Changes & Opportunities Report.

The advisor suggests, "The best way for investors to take a position in the country's growth is with the iShares MSCI Turkey Investment Market Index (TUR).

"The ancient nation is rapidly becoming a major Middle Eastern power and an important European power at the same time. And yet, very few investors are paying attention. Those who are stand to make excellent long-term profits as Turkey continues to develop.

Continue reading Turkey ETF (TUR): The Next Brazil?

Turkey ETF (TUR): The Next Brazil? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Flight-to-Safety Pushes U.S. Interest Rates Lower

Flight-to-Safety Pushes U.S. Interest Rates Lower originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Three Chinese Stocks to Finish 2010 in the Black

Three Chinese Stocks to Finish 2010 in the Black originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Tuesday, June 15: May Import Prices. Expected decline of -1.5%.
• Wednesday, June 16: May Producer Prices. Expected decline of -0.5%.
• Thursday, June 17: May Consumer Prices. Expected decline of -0.2%.

Continue reading Brace for Deflation at Home, Inflation in Emerging Markets

Brace for Deflation at Home, Inflation in Emerging Markets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The financial sector has been a strange double-edged sword in portfolios over the past two years or so. In the wake of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, billions of wealth was erased in what were long thought of as conservative stocks. Then the resurgence of some banks since the lows of last year made other investors a fortune, with Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC) both soaring about 300% since historic lows on March 9, 2009.

The drama continues in the financial sector even now with the endless see-saw of mortgage default news and the continued worries over sovereign debt in the eurozone. Any investor jumping into financial stocks right now is really taking the tiger by the tail -- but if you do your homework, there a number of opportunities in the sector become clear -- particularly among financials in Latin America.

Continue reading Three Booming Latin America Banks

Three Booming Latin America Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Intel's Chip Demand Points to Increasing U.S. Exports

Intel's Chip Demand Points to Increasing U.S. Exports originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 29 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a recent Wall Street Journal interview, top Nike (NKE) executive Mark Parker talked about his ambitious goal to boost global sales 40% by 2015. His strategy? Focus on China, Brazil and India and connect with these emerging markets' emerging middle classes.

And most interesting of all: The company is planning this move under brands that don't bear the trademark swoosh logo.

Continue reading Nike Seeks Growth in Emerging Markets -- but Without Swoosh logo?

Nike Seeks Growth in Emerging Markets -- but Without Swoosh logo? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's no secret that China's phenomenal growth has been driving the global recovery. China's first-quarter GDP grew at an 11.9% annual pace despite three significant increases to reserve requirements that were designed to cool lending and growth. That's why in much of 2009 and early 2010 I was bullish on China and overweighted my global portfolios in favor of this country.

But all good things must come to an end and right now it's time to get selective about which China stocks you buy. That's why I recommend investors cut back their China holdings and look for new opportunities in emerging markets.

Continue reading It's Time to Sell China -- and Buy These Emerging Markets

It's Time to Sell China -- and Buy These Emerging Markets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 May 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

In celebration of the holiday, I thought it would be nice to remind investors not to forget about the opportunities in our southern neighbor. While Mexico is not a red hot emerging market like China or Brazil, there are still profits to be had there if you know where to look.

Here's why:

Continue reading Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Three Mexican Stock Picks

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Three Mexican Stock Picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 May 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Consider this: Just 7% of all Indians brush their teeth at least once a day. If you're thinking about personal hygiene, you're probably grossed out.

But if you're thinking about global investing you're seeing dollar signs. It means more than a billion Indians haven't yet begun a daily ritual that is already commonplace around the world!

Continue reading Colgate: An India Stock Seeing 50% Growth

Colgate: An India Stock Seeing 50% Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Five Stocks That Prove the China Boom Isn't Over

Five Stocks That Prove the China Boom Isn't Over originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ray of Light: IMF Ups 2010 Global Growth Forecast to 3.9%

Ray of Light: IMF Ups 2010 Global Growth Forecast to 3.9% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

For his top fund selection for 2010, fund specialist Ron Rowland turns to the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap (EWX).

In his All Star Investor, he suggests, "This is the easiest way to gain access to the small cap stocks of all the emerging markets, as it includes stocks from more than 20 countries countries."

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: SPDR Small Cap Emerging (EWX)

Top Picks for 2010: SPDR Small Cap Emerging (EWX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Long a topic of discussion, insurers and reinsurers are beginning to enter the microinsurance space. Scor (SCOR) firm invested in LeapFrog Investments, the first microinsurance fund, last month, and last week, the Microinsurance Network was launched in an effort to raise awareness of the sector.

In a mature industry, microinsurance is seen as having considerable growth potential, especially given the large numbers of people around the world who live without any form of coverage. Microinsurance protection ranges from property catastrophe to life and health. A recent study by Lloyd's of London found that 135 million people, 5% of the world's low-income people, are using microinsurance products, but that the total market size could range from 1.5 billion to 3 billion.

Continue reading Small is beautiful: Insurance companies turn to micro for growth

Small is beautiful: Insurance companies turn to micro for growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.