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, and more conservative investment idea for 2008 is Japan -- specifically, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ASE: EWJ)," says Mike Burnick, editor of Global Market Investor.
"Japan has been one of the most out-of-favor major industrial stock markets over the past two years, yet corporate profits are growing at a fast pace, thanks to a robust export market. Japan's proximity to China certainly helps in this regard, as Japan has become a key exporter to China, as well as other emerging Asian nations.
"From a valuation perspective, Japan appears to be the most undervalued major market in the world right now. Many blue-chip Japanese banks and industrial firms sell at book value or even less then book.
"Meanwhile, bonds typically yield more than stocks, to compensate investors for the lack of appreciation potential in bonds. However, in Japan today the normal stock/bond risk/reward relationship is turned upside-down.
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