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.
"My favorite speculation for 2008 is Indian retail banking giant ICICI Bank Ltd. (NYSE: IBN), my top play on India's booming market," says Nick Vardy, editor of The Global Stock Investor.
"With 614 branches and 2,200 ATMs across India, ICICI's doing an impressive job at bringing modern retail banking to India. ICICI has a diverse portfolio of high-quality, high-margin mortgage, consumer and auto loans. And it is busy adding new financial products such as life and general insurance to sell to this customer base.
"ICICI is also turning into a true global bank. The bank already operates in 14 countries through branches, representative offices and subsidiaries. Indeed, you now see ICICI's bank featured as the mortgage lender of choice in personal finance pages in London newspapers.