Cinemark Holdings (NYSE: CNK), a leading owner of movie theaters, is a recent buy candidate from Leo Fasciocco, whose Ticker Tape Digest seeks stocks poised for technical breakouts.

"CNK an excellent intermediate-term play due to the strong profit outlook. The stock came public in 2007 at $20. It fell during the bear market. The stock formed a bottom, rallied and is now in position to breakout to the upside.

"With annual revenues of $1.8 billion, Cinemark is the third-largest motion picture exhibitor in the United States, operating 4,568 screens in 37 states and 12 Latin American countries.

In his The Ticker Tape Digest, technician Leo Fasciocco looks for stocks that have broken out of basing patterns; his latest breakout stock is credit card processing firm Visa (NYSE: V).

"Visa manages a group of global payment card brands. It licenses them to financial institutions that issue cards to their customers. The company maintains the largest card service in the world with annual revenue of $6.5 billion.

"The stock soared after it came public. It peaked at 90 and then was swept lower with the bear market. The stock has put in what seems to be a good bottom. The key is for it to kick in an up trend. That is quite possible now, but not a given.

This post is part of a special report, Global advisors look to China.

Two leading advisors -- both with a noted focus on technical analysis -- look to Shanghai-based Shanda Interactive (NASDAQ: SNDA).

In his Ticker Tape Digest advisory service, Leo Fasciocco focuses on stocks breaking out of basing patterns and cconsiders Shanda a breakout buy.

With its own economic stimulus program in place, a relatively stable banking system, and a stock market that has been resilient in recent months, numerous leading global investment advisors are looking bullishly towards China.

From technology to power, and from individual stocks to ETFs, and from Hong Kong to Taiwan to mainland China, we turn to seven leading advisors for their favorite ways for US investors to take a stake in Asia.

Leo Fasciocco is a technician focused on "breakout" stocks; in his Ticker Tape Digest, two recent such breakout ideas were both from the out-of-favor auto parts sector: O'Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) and Autozone (NYSE: AZO).

Noting the recent strength in these auto parts stocks -- both have recently rose to new 52-week highs despite the market's sharp declines -- the advisor explains, "Auto parts stocks may see strong product demand as more people keep their car and not buy a new one."

"O'Reilly Automotive is one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment, and accessories in the U.S, with annual revenues of $3.1 billion.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Airline stocks are looking good now; the airlines should benefit greatly from the big drop in crude oil, as lower crude means lower fuel costs for their operations," notes breakout specialist Leo Fasciocco.

In his Ticker Tape Digest, he looks at Allegiant Travel Co. (NASDAQ: ALGT), a "niche travel airline providing nonstop flights from 53 small cities to large vacation destinations such as Las Vegas and Orlando."

The advisor explains, "The Las Vegas-based company has annual revenues of $483 million. The company also has fixed-fee deals with Harrah's Entertainment to fly certain prespecified routes. The firm's fleet is composed solely of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft.

"ALGT recently broke clear of a seven-week flat base. Its price pattern of the past few weeks has been a zig-zag with a bias to the upside. The current base is a bit choppy. However, the technicals are extremely bullish. ALGT's push to a new high is very bullish and could bring in more buying.

Few stocks are poised to benefit from economic woes and rising unemployment. One group, however, that appears to be an exception is for-profit adult education stocks.

These companies, which operate school campuses and online education programs, are viewed by some as beneficiaries of a growing need for worker retraining and the rising demand for education by those changing careers or re-entering the work force as adults.

Leo Fasciocco is a technical expert, specializing in finding stocks that are "breaking out" -- those moving above previous technical resistance levels or poised to do so.

His two of the latest breakout stocks featured in his The Ticker Tape Digest are both in the for-profit education field: Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) and Devry Inc. (NYSE: DV). Here's his assessment.

"Apollo, based in Phoenix, is the largest for-profit education company, with more than 300,000 students. APOL focuses on working adults and operates 259 campuses and learning centers in 40 states, as well as various international locations.

"Programs range from associate to doctorate degrees in areas such as business, education, health care, technology. The company said it is showing solid enrollment growth. Annual revenues are $3 billion.

"The company recently reported that net for the fiscal fourth quarter excluding special items increased 20% to 75 cents a share from 62 cents a year ago. Revenues for the quarter rose 17%. Analysts had expected net of just 64 cents a share. So, results were a positive surprise.

"For fiscal 2009 ending August 31, analysts predict a 17% increase in net to $3.31 a share from $2.84 a year ago. The stock sells with a price-earnings ratio of 20, which is reasonable.

"Institutional sponsorship is very good. Five-star rated Janus Mid Cap Value Fund was a recent buyer of 550,000 shares. Also, 4-star rated GMO US Quality Equity III Fund recently picked up 779,000 shares.

"Devry, based in Oakbrook Terrace, Il., is one of the largest for-profit education companies, with annual revenues of $1.1 billion. DeVry University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business and technology fields. They account for 77% of revenue.

"Under its health-care segment, Ross University offers medical and veterinarian programs, and Chamberlain College offers nursing degrees.

"Recently acquired schools add allied health programs. Its professional segment offers review courses through its Becker CPA review and Stalla CFA review programs.

"DV's technicals set up surprisingly well. The momentum indicator is strongly bullish. Recent price action shows good institutional buying interest. However, investors should be patient with this stock; we are looking for a key breakout over 58.50 before entering.

"The company tends to show consistently good earnings growth. This fiscal year ending June 30, analysts predict a 22% increase in net to $2.18 a share from $1.78 a year ago.

"The stock sells with a price-earnings ratio of 23, which is reasonable given the earnings growth rate. Looking out to fiscal 2010, the Street projects a 24% gain in net to $2.69 a share.

"The largest fund holder is 5-star rated Baron Growth Fund with a big 5.2% stake. It has held its position steady. A recent large buyer was 5-star rated Hartford Midcap Fund, which purchased 385,000 shares.

"Over the past 2 years shows, DV's stock has appreciated 120%. That easily outperformed the S&P 500 index which declined 25% over the same time. Recent price action shows good institutional buying interest.

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

Leo Fasciocco, who specializes in stocks that have shown technical "breakouts," turns to Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) as the latest featured stock in his top notch Ticker Tape Digest.

"Abbott has been acting strong depite market weakness, indicating that money moving into ABT, perhaps as a defensive play.

"ABT has a low beta of 0.14 versus the S&P 500's 1.00. That would indicate that ABT is a low risk play. In any case, the stock is set up nicely for a breakout from an eight-week flat base. With good earnings coming this year, we suggest accumulation of the shares.

"Abbott's products include prescription drugs, coronary and carotid stents, and nutritional liquids for infants and adults.

"The stock's long-term chart shows ABT 'knocking on the door' of a new high. It just needs to get over 61.09. If it can do that it could well draw in more buying.

"ABT is acting strong and is a good spot for institutional money to move into in a difficult market. We suggest accumulation of a partial stake in ABT with further buying to be done on a move over 60.

"Overall, we see ABT as a conservative play with low downside risk. We are targeting the stock for a move to 70 within the next few months."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

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

"Technically, Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is now set up nicely in a base for a breakout," says Leo Fasciocco, a technical analyst who specializes in stocks breaking out above previous resistance levels.

In his Ticker Tape Digest, the newsletter advisor explains, "ORCL is in a good spot to be accumulated for a breakout, supported by favorable earnings prospects. And as a big cap play, it is most suitable for conservative investors."

"Oracle, based in Redwood City, California, sells a wide range of enterprise software solutions, including databases, middleware, and applications. With annual revenues of $22.4 billion, ORCL is one of the largest software companies. Its updates and product support are the most profitable segment of its operations. It accounts for 46% of revenues.

"The company has an active acquisition program that is a fundamental component of its strategy. ORCL has spent more than $28 billion in acquisitions the last four fiscal years.

"The stock's long-term chart shows a powerful run up to 40 during the 2000 bull market. It then went south with the stock market. It has since been working its way back. Short-term, the stock rallied from 18 to 23 and has formed a cup-and-handle base. That type of pattern is sometimes found with big caps. The stock is now set up nicely in a base for a potential breakout.

With concerns over recession, turmoil in the financial sector, fear of rising rates, high market volatility and a rising aversion to risk, many investors have been avoiding technology stocks.

Investors have feared that these economic headwinds will dampen both consumer spending for technology products and reduced capital expenditures for technology in the corporate sector.

Despite these concerns, some of the newsletter industry's leading advisors are looking beyond the current malaise and seeing longer-term value in some of the tech sector's leading players. They believe that much of the "bad news" is already reflected in the price of the shares, with little recognition being given to their longer-term potential.

For those willing to go against the crowd and buy, as they say, "while blood is running in the street," we offer a six-pack of technology stocks that the some top advisors considers to be among their favorite ideas.

"Coal miner Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU) looks hot," says Leo Fasciocco, who focuses on stocks that have broken out from technical basing patterns.

In his The Ticker Tape Digest, he explains, "The stock rose above its break points of $81.20, hitting a new high." He adds, "With net set to surge 70% this year, we see an upside target of $105 per share."

"Peabody, based in St. Louis, is a major producer of coal with annual revenues of $4.7 billion. BTU's coal fuels more than 10% of U.S. electricity generation and 2% worldwide.

"The company has mining operations in Appalachia, the Powder River Basin, and the U.S. Southwest and Midwest, as well as Australia and Venezuela. It also markets, brokers, and trades coal, and develops electricity-generation projects.

"Technically, BTU has broken out from a six-week flat base today with expanding volume. It is part of the strong coal group, which has been one of the strongest acting sectors of the market.

"Potash (NYSE: POT) scored a technical breakout by rising above $210," says technical expert Leo Fasciocco. In his Ticker Tape Digest, he says, "With earnings set to soar the stock now targets a move to $265."

"Postash, based in Canada, produces fertilizer. It produces phosphate and nitrogen from 12 facilities in the United States and South America. Fertilizer stocks have been strong due to rising profits reflecting strong demand for their products and rising prices.

"A long term chart shows an extraordinary bull market advance with the rising 170% the past 12 months versus an 8% decline in the S&P 500 index. Now, the stock has broken out from a seven-week flat base. The move carries POT to a new high on expanding volume.

"Flir Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) provides thermal-imaging and infrared camera equipment for military, law enforcement, and commercial applications," notes Leo Fasciocco.

In his Ticker Tape Digest, which focuses on stocks showing technical breakouts, he explains, "FLIR has convincingly broken out from a five-week base; the move was boosted by the win of a $359 million contract from the Army."

"FLIR, with annual revenues of $855 million, has been a sensational winner since 2001. It is a beneficiary of the war on terror and the need for equipment to combat it via military and security needs.

"Short-term, the daily chart shows the stock crossing its resistance line at 35.54. The move sends the stock over not only near-term resistance but also over the peak made back in early November. The action indicated very astute institutional buying.

Leo Fasciocco is a technical expert who focuses exclusively on finding breakout candidates. In his Ticker Tape Digest, he looks to agriculture equipment manufacturer Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE).

"Deere, with annual revenues of $24.8 billion, makes agricultural, industrial, forestry, and lawn-care equipment. DE is benefiting from the strong demand for its products in the farm sector. The company is also expanding aggressively in Russia.

"DE has broken out from a 13-week flat base. Its long-term chart shows DE soaring from 20 in 2003 - the start of the prior bull market - to 92. It has been a big winner in the big cap sector. The stock has gained 65% in the past 12 months versus a 5% drop in the S&P 500 index.

"The stock is in a base bracketed between roughly 78 on the downside and 91 on the upside. The breakpoint was set at the key upside resistance of the base. Deere has plowed through that resistance on increasing volume.

Technical expert Leo Fasciocco seeks stocks that have broken out from technical basing patterns or those he feels are poised to make such a breakout, such as Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD), which has a "breakout level at $50."

The editor of Ticker Tape Digest explains, "Gilead Sciences, with annual revenues of $4.2 billion, makes therapies to treat life-threatening infectious diseases. It focuses on pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.

"The company has four products -- Viread, Emtriva, combination pill Truvada, and triple combination Atripla -- in its HIV franchise, as well as Hepsera for hepatitis B. GILD recently received approval for pulmonary arterial hypertension drug Letairis, acquired from Myogen.

"The stock has climbed from $10 to $47 the past five years. It is one of the few stocks now that is knocking on the door of making a new high. With earnings growth to be solid this year and next, we see GILD in a good spot to be accumulated in anticipation of a breakout.