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 top speculative play for 2008 is SPDR S&P Homebuilders Index (ASE: XHB)," says Mark Leibovit, editor of VRTrader and last year's the #1-rated market timer by Timer Digest.

"The investment seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of an index derived from the homebuilding segment of a US total market composite index. The fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the total return performance of the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry index.

"We expect a sharp recovery in housing stocks. The Case-Shiller Futures Market (traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) is the vehicle of choice for the Plunge Protection team (PPT) to bolster the US real estate market.

"It is obvious that the PPT will be buying the Case Shiller Futures contracts, initially a quiet accumulation, and then more aggressively so as to bias the futures pointing to a rebound in real estate.

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 top conservative play for 2008 is a repeat of my top pick from last year, StreetTracks Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)," says Mark Leibovit, editor of VRYTrader and last year's #1 rated market timer by Timer Digest.

"StreetTracks Gold seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the trust's expenses. The trust holds gold, and is expected to issue baskets in exchange for deposits of gold, and to distribute gold in connection with redemption of baskets.

"The gold held by the trust will only be sold on an as-needed basis to pay trust expenses, in the event the trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or as otherwise required by law or regulation. The trust is not managed like an active investment vehicle, and it's not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.