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.

A leading expert on Asia, Yiannis Mostrous looks to international bank, Standard Chartered (OTC: SCBFF) as his top pick for 2009. Here's the latest from The Silk Road Investor.

"Standard Chartered has been doing business in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for more than 100 years.

"It's an international bank focused on retail and corporate banking and treasury activities. Although domiciled in the UK, its biggest single concentration of customers and profits is in Hong Kong.

"More than 40% of its retail income is generated by deposits and related fees. Its income streams are highly diversified, with no consumer or wholesale geography contributing more than 9% of revenues, and its loan/deposit ratio is 85%.

"The bank offers pure exposure to some of the most dynamic areas in the emerging market world and is run in a prudent manner, especially compared to most of its competition.

Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Standard Chartered (SCBFF)

Top Stock Picks '09: Standard Chartered (SCBFF) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.