"I'm always looking for market leadership; right now, biotechnology stocks are moving up faster than most anything else," says Ron Rowland. In Money & Markets, he eyes biotech ETFs.

"Biotechnology is a fascinating sector, one that's made (and lost) a lot of money for millions of investors in recent decades. That's why, in my opinion, you should become familiar with this industry.

"Broadly speaking, it's the application of technology to biological materials - plants, animals and people.

"Nowadays a lot of biotechnology involves manipulating genetic material: The DNA that forms the basis for life. The goal is to produce new and useful substances that make life better and, of course, turn a profit along the way.

Two leading growth stock expert, Brandon Clay, editor of Invest with an Edge, and Alexander Green, editor of The Oxford Club, turn to automated blood testing equipment maker Immucor (NASDAQ: BLUD) as a recession-resistant buy.

Clay suggest, "A good bet is to go with the strongest stock in that particular sector at the time of your pickThat way, the company you select at least has the momentum of the sector backing it. Typically the medical industry performs better than the overall market in a downturn. This recession has been no different.

"As we dug deeper into health care, one company surfaced that was worth our attention. Immucor is a blood testing equipment manufacturer specializing in pre-transfusion diagnostics.

"Established in 1982, they brought their first patent to market four years later. Since then they've become a leader in blood diagnostics and blood bank technology.

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.

Leading fund expert Ron Rowland looks to a conservatively managed mutual fund as his favorite investment play for 2009. In his All Star Investor, the advisor takes a look at Gateway Fund (GATEX).

"Gateway Fund is a conservative fund that has shown equity-like returns with bond-like volatility for over 20 years.

"From inception in 1988 through November 2008, GATEX had a +7.6% annual return -- slightly behind the S&P 500 but with a fraction of the volatility.

"More recently, the fund's steady returns are beating the market by a mile. Gateway pioneered the 'buy-write' strategy of owning stocks and selling call options to earn income.

"The fund is at its best in choppy, sideways markets -- which makes it an excellent choice for risk-averse investors who don't want to abandon equities entirely in this uncertain economy."

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.

"If you're going to stay invested, you should look to defensive sectors," explain Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay, who point to consumer staples as a top pick for the current market environment.

In their Invest with an Edge, the advisors explain, "Perhaps the best way to stay defensive is with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLP), an exchange traded fund.

"In a bear market, opportunities are usually limited to certain sectors. Surveying the investment horizon, we think the consumer staples sector has the best opportunity for growth in this economy.

"Regardless how the economy acts, people still eat. Consumers may not shop at Whole Foods, but they'll still buy groceries. Companies like Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Safeway (NYSE: SWY) will continue to rake in revenues from hungry customers.

"In addition, these companies should continue to receive additional revenue from consumers who normally shop at specialty stores, but can no longer afford to.

"Consumers may not be shopping at Sharper Image any more, but there are other creature comforts that will be difficult for Americans to abandon.

"Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) will still sell products during a prolonged downturn. In addition, companies providing toiletries and convenience like Procter and Gamble and CVS Pharmacy stand to do well during a shifty economy.

"Although equities tend to have attractive multi-year growth rates, there is always risk," caution Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

In their Invest with an Edge, they explain, "That's why investors have been taking a second look at bonds, specifically municipal bonds." Here's an ETF offering exposure to the muni bond sector.

"Affectionately called 'munis', municipal bonds have enjoyed a resurgence among retail investors, who are buying munis for three reasons:

1) Munis Have High Yield & No Taxes in Difficult Markets

"Municipal bonds are unique investment vehicles. They offer yields, but the interest is not taxed by the IRS. That way, the 'effective' yield for the muni is often higher than on taxable bonds. Moreover, as prices for munis have been falling, yields have been rising.

2) Munis Are Relatively Safe Investments

"When you're buying a muni bond, you're actually loaning to a state/local government or their agencies. Although cities can go bankrupt – thus preventing you from receiving back your initial investment – at least we can vote on governors and mayors.

"As a result, munis are a safer investment than many corporate bonds. Munis are one way for investors to find safety in this market.

In the latest annual survey in Barron's of professional investors Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was rated the world's most respected company," reports Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

In Invest With an Edge, the advisors look at the 123-company, which he selects as " a solid healthcare pick in a strong long-term uptrend."

"This New Jersey-based company has come a long way since corner drugstores sold their baby powder. Beginning as a pioneer in sterile medical supplies, they expanded into pharmaceuticals and related consumer products.

"Over the years, they've released ubiquitous brands such as Band-Aid, Rogaine, Listerine, Tylenol, even Splenda. Johnson and Johnson has become a household name.

"However, Johnson & Johnson is a healthcare company with deeper product lines; it is ivided into three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices & Diagnostics.

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

"To play the classic semiconductor-cycle (buying on a down-cycle and selling after an up-cycle), go with NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA)," say Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

The editors of All Star Investor explain, "This graphic chip manufacturer stumbled earlier this year, but we find a compelling a turnaround story." Here's his review.

"This is a difficult environment for short-term investors. When the Dow jumps up 200 points one day, and crashes 200 points the next, it's hard to tell where to turn. Calling bottoms is nearly impossible

"In this market, we have become value investors -- seeking an inexpensive company that's almost-undiscovered by mainstream investors.

"Technology is not typically known as a place for value. In fact, quite the opposite. Since the Tech crash, a shift has happened. Certain semiconductors have been hammered over the past several years -- especially in the last 12 months.

"One of those, a leader in graphics chips, has been especially beaten down. NVIDIA fell from a 52-week high of $39.67 last October. The Santa Clara-based chip designer is now trading around $12.00 today. Did it really deserve the punishment the market delivered? We don't think so.

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.

"What is one thing you can't live without?" asks Brandon Clay and Ron Rowland. "Take away that glass of cool, clean drinking water from your diet, then it's a matter of days before you dehydrate and die." ons

In All Star Investor, they explain, "Water is essential to our survival." And for investors, they add, "Powershares Water Resources Portfolio (ASE: PHO) is a perfect play on the global demand for water technology."

"The essential nature of water is the same for the 6.67 billion people on this planet. With Latin America and Asia entering the modern world at an unprecedented pace, water is becoming even scarcer.

"Improving diets and growing industry have pushed this diminishing resource further from the reach of many people. Yes, people are still drinking water, but at what cost?

"Water covers most of our planet. Still, less than 2% is fresh water. That makes water a limited resource. Consumption is growing with 6,000 cubic meters per inhabitant used every year. That's the equivalent of draining Lake Superior – the biggest lake in the world – twice. Since the water cycle is not replenishing growing demand, water sources are being depleted.

"We like to invest in the strongest sectors and we think Industrials are on their way to the top," note Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay in All Star Investor.

The advisors explain, "Surveying the horizon of industrial companies, the most promising is Bermuda-based, Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR). This is a stock you want for the next 12 months."

"The stock market is a leading indicator; it starts to decline before the economy slows down, and it starts to advance well before the economy improves. These lags often results in a stock market that starts moving up just when the public becomes 'convinced' that the problems are serious.

"Economic reports are likely to get worse. Housing foreclosures are likely to increase. Many more employees are likely to be let go. These are the perceptions that currently haunt investors.

"However, these are often the very same perceptions that create bottoms in the stock market. It is hard to see how the economy will crawl out of this mess, but eventually it will. The groundwork is now being laid.

"It may seem counter-intuitive, but investors should start planning for the next expansionary cycle. Markets move well ahead of facts, and it's time to invest accordingly. And indeed, industrials have risen in our rankings in recent weeks.

"A global leader of broad-based equipment offerings, Ingersoll-Rand is positioned to capitalize on the next phase of development like no other company in its sector. Here's why.

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 conservative fund for 2008 is Gateway Fund (NASDAQ: GATEX)," says Ron Rowland, editor of All Star Fund Trader.

"This past year, the markets struggled. The question is where 2008 is heading. Our indicators show continued challenges in US equities based upon fundamental economic weakness. Because of subprime mortgage defaults and other related issues, investors should consider a strong but conservative strategy for a portion of their holdings.

"One place to look is Gateway Fund. With over $4 billion in assets and an impressive, long-term track record, Gateway typically meets the objective of a higher total return with less risk than the S&P 500. Its five-year chart resembles a gentle upward slope -- exactly what you want when reviewing conservative funds.

"Other funds have tried a similar strategy, but none have the longevity or track record that GATEX offers. To defend
against further market irregularities, look to Gateway Fund in 2008."

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 more speculative fund for 2008 is the iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index (ASE: EFG)," says Ron Rowland, editor of All Star Fund Trader.

"Despite challenges to the dollar and US equities, next year continues to hold promise in the global markets. Also, consider that the strong relative strength of 'value' over 'growth' for most of the past seven years is now swinging back toward growth. That combination provides a sound basis to tilt your portfolio toward international growth next year.

"For years, US markets have been segmented (ie., Small Cap Value, Large Cap Growth). International equities have started to specialize in the same way. Such is the case with iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index.

"Attempting to capitalize on the growth aspects of developed international markets, EFG tries to mirror the MSCI EAFE Growth Index. Right now, that's a good benchmark to emulate. The international growth market appears poised to continue its climb next year. For your aggressive portfolio, look to EFG in 2008."