"Global markets, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index, have risen nearly 27% since August, outpacing the 18% gain in the S&P 500," notes sector specialist Jim Farrish.

The editor of SectorExchange.com suggests, "It is reasonable to assume there is still room for growth in the global markets.

"However, the risk of putting new money to work has risen along with prices. It is important to be patient and develop a realistic strategy for adding these assets to your portfolio. Two markets in particular worth looking at are India and Japan.

President Obama's trip to Asia has turned global attention towards opportunities in India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. Should investors be following in his footsteps?

We polled several of the top international investing experts to find out what their favorite ideas were in these markets. And, indeed, many see strong upside potential for long-term investors.

India Fund (IFN) closed at $29.97. IFN overall option implied volatility of 26 is below its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

PetroChina (PTR) closed at $111.92. WTI Crude Futures are recently up 0.04% to $79.70 according to Bloomberg. PTR March put option implied volatility is at 24, April puts are at 29; below its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Options Update is by stock specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

"India is one of the hottest economies on the planet and holds tremendous profit potential," says Larry Edelson in Real Wealth. Here, he looks at a trio of fund poised to "capitalize on India's boom."

"India's economy is growing at a 9% rate, ten times faster than the U.S. and only a couple of percentage points behind China. And the Indian economy is not merely outgrowing the U.S. by leaps and bounds; it's also at the very epicenter of the booming natural resource markets.

"India has the fastest-growing population in the world, expanding at the rate of some 16 million per year. At that rate, India's population will exceed 1.4 billion people and be larger than China's by 2030.

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 India Fund (NYSE: IFN) is our top speculative idea for 2008," says Carla Pasternak, editor of High Yield Investing. "As investors fret that a downturn in the US housing sector could cool global growth, the world's second-fastest growing major economy after China is forging ahead.

"India's economy is expanding at a rapid +9% clip, nearly double the latest growth rate put in by the US economy. It's no wonder India's benchmark Bombay Sensex Index is up 44% this year.

"And the future looks equally strong. Thanks in part to US firms outsourcing their customer service and data-processing jobs, India is seeing the rise of a new middle class. Estimated at some 300 million of the billion-plus population, India's middle class is mushrooming at a rate of about 20% a year.

"A growing consumer class with an insatiable appetite for everything from houses to TV sets, and the money to buy them -- the world's fastest-growing democracy appears to be in the early stages of a major bull market.