I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors who were featured at the show, and I am highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Although based in Maryland, McCormick and Co. (NYSE:MKC) is indeed a global play. Vahan Janjigian says, "McCormick is the largest global supplier of spices, herbs, and seasonings. Its products are sold in nearly 100 countries."

Individual brands, he notes, include McCormick and Zatarain's in the U.S. and Mexico, Schwartz in the U.K., Ducros in France, Club House in Canada, and Silvo in the Netherlands.

The quantitative analyst and editor of The Forbes Growth Investor explains, "The consumer segment, which generated 55% of first nine months sales, makes, markets, and distributes to grocers, supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drug stores, and other retail outlets.

"The industrial segment supplies the food service industry and food manufacturers with compound flavors. Customers include almost all major American service restaurants and food companies.

Continue reading Global gains: International spice

Global gains: International spice originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Investors seeking growth and income should look to New Zealand -- a "gem that shouldn't be ignored," says Martin Weiss. The editor of Safe Money Report notes that New Zealand's short-term government yields of 7.25% are two full percentage points more than the federal funds rate in the U.S.

And, he expects the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to hike rates even further in March -- probably to 7.5%. Meanwhile, he adds, "Growth is strong. While home sales in the U.S. are falling, in New Zealand, they rose 19% year-over-year in December. Consumer spending is rising. So are corporate profits. And the New Zealand dollar is on the upswing, rising about 13% in the past six months.

His top buy on this market is Telecom Corp. of New Zealand (NYSE:NZT), that country's pre-eminent telecom utility. And he points out, investors can buy its American Depository Receipts in the U.S. through a regular brokerage account.

Continue reading Global gains: Ring up New Zealand

Global gains: Ring up New Zealand originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their more intriguing ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Among the most bearish of the advisors at the World Money Show was Steven Hochberg, who says "Amidst a unanimous call by analysts for a 2007 market advance, the blue chip indexes are tracing out their final rally."

I would note that many investors are averse to reading bearish commentary. On the contrary, I would argue that all investors -- no matter how bullish -- are well-served by understanding and considering the arguments made by those who disagree.

Here, the editor of The Elliott Wave Financial Forecast, cautions, "The pending downturn should be accompanied by a major financial sector reversal, which is expected to be the last straw in a long-term, global topping process." Here's his bearish reasoning.

"One of the legacies of the bull market that began in December 1974 and ended in January 2000 is the conviction that speculation and financial engineering are enduring and self-sustaining engines of economic growth. From 1974 to the third quarter of 2006, financial assets held by Wall Street firms soared from 1.3% to 20.5% of GDP.

"The rate of ascent is even faster than the Fed shows, because their figures do not include hedge fund assets, which are estimated to have hit $2 trillion in November. Including this figure raises Wall Street's total assets to a mind-boggling 36.6% of GDP.

Continue reading Global gains: Advisor warns of a global bear

Global gains: Advisor warns of a global bear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors who were featured at the show, and now I am highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"In the commodities bull market that has shaken the foundations of Wall Street over the past year, Australia has been in the center of the action," says Jon Markman, editor of Strategic Investing.

"Although its reputation among the public primarily rests on its sunny beaches, broad smiles, and big beers, the interior of the country has turned out to be one big gold mine. Or iron ore mine. Or coal mine. Or uranium mine. Or ... well, you get the picture. Australia is a floating rock for the ages.

"This kind of wealth generation has a lot of consequences in the economy, not the least of which is ignition of the entrepreneurial spirit. Employees and vendors get rich, and decide to go out and start or expand new businesses of their own.

"And that has certainly happened in Australia, as small-business borrowing is soaring in the country. According to Bloomberg News, bank lending is rising at its fastest pace in 16 years. Capacity at Australian factories reached a record low in the fourth quarter of last year, spurring these new investments.

"Banks are always a big beneficiary of increased business, as they make a lot of money on lending so long as their own borrowing costs stay relatively benign. We actually have two names in the Australian banking sector that I hold on my elite Core Select portfolio list.

Continue reading Global gains: Banking bets from Down Under

Global gains: Banking bets from Down Under originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors who were featured at the show, and I have been highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"Germany is the third largest economy in the world, and it's leading index -- the DAX 30 -- has been in a bull market for four years," notes Heiko Böhmer.

The editor of Privat-Finanzletter offers a trio of German stocks -- on sports cars, solar cells, and Internet broadband growth -- as well as an ETF play for U.S. investors seeking an easy way to participate in the German market.

He explains, "Changes are occurring, as Angela Merkel has become the first female chancellor in Germany and the first chancellor from the former GDR. Meanwhile, we are seeing an ongoing consumer record, health care reform, corporate tax reform, and a recovering construction sector.

"Earnings growth for 2006 was estimated at 21%. I would caution, however, that earnings could slow this year and, after a four-year bull market, there is a chance for an overall market correction -- perhaps as much as 15%.

"Meanwhile, Germany is the biggest export nation in the world and is known for brands that are recognized worldwide. For example, Porsche (Other OTC:PSEPF) is the most profitable car producer. Earnings grew 78% from 2005 to 2006. The U.S. is a very important market.

"Meanwhile, its stake in Volkswagen could grow later this year. Currently, VW's earnings are the biggest driver for Porsche shares right now. Longer term, Porsche will be selling more higher margin cars such as the 911 Turbo. And, its Panamera will be launched in 2009-2010.

Continue reading Global gains: Böhmer's bets on Germany

Global gains: Böhmer's bets on Germany originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"In 2006, investing in BRIC countries -- Brazil, India, China -- was the rage," notes Carl Delfeld, a expert on exchange-traded funds. In his Chartwell Advisors he focuses on Brazil.

"While China and India received most of the attention last year, the iShares Brazil ETF (NYSE:EWZ) was up 45.4% -- not bad, not bad at all. But the lingering question is whether Brazil's economic recovery is sustainable or just another stage in the economic cycle.

"What is most interesting to me is that Brazil's stock market's performance during the past four years is not due to superior economic growth. It has had an annual average growth rate of only 2.6%, about half of world economic growth during the same period. My view is that Brazil has been primarily a balance sheet story supported somewhat by the commodity boom.

"Inflation is muted and was only 3% during 2006. Brazil is almost energy independent, and foreign exchange reserves are now almost $100 billion after paying off its nettlesome IMF debt. In 2006, it recorded a trade surplus of $46 billion, and while interest rates are high, they are beginning to fall.

Continue reading Global gains: Two experts bet on Brazil

Global gains: Two experts bet on Brazil originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors featured at the show, and I have been highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"As we head into 2007, some of the songs from 2006 will remain the same, chief among them the thirst for large-cap stocks in the established markets of the U.S., Europe, and Japan," says mutual fund and ETF expert Jim Lowell. "Of those three marketplaces, one stands out as not having participated in last year's global rally; Japan.

"Such a perspective isn't shared by any of its Pacific Rim neighbors or emerging market players, all of which have enjoyed nearly nonstop gains for several years in a row, and most of which are trading at recent or historical highs. Overall, that makes Japan interesting from both a valuation and a contrarian perspective."

Here, the editor of The Forbes ETF Advisor reviews his buy-rated Japan exchange-traded funds:

"Japan, the world's second largest economy, continues to recover nicely from its epic recession. It also continues to benefit from its location. The iShares MSCI Japan Index (NYSE:EWJ) covers nearly the entire market capitalization of the Japanese markets, but the ETF correlates most closely with the Nikkei 225 (Japan's equivalent to our S&P 500).

"Its top holdings include stocks such as Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) and Sony (NYSE:SNE). Blue chips in the land of the rising sun haven't always risen; but I think there time has come.

Continue reading Global gains: Favorite ETFs for a rising sun

Global gains: Favorite ETFs for a rising sun originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Any investor who owned Canadian income trusts prior to the change in tax law that caused the sector to plummet can well understand the sentiments expressed by Canadian investment expert Gordon Pape who -- after speaking to investors at the World Money Show -- commented, "The Americans are angry. Very angry indeed!"

In an update on the trust situation, the editor The Internet Wealth Builder notes, "The recent Parliamentary Committee hearings into the income trust tax proposal were interesting but, in the end, nothing has changed. The government is going ahead with the plan and the legislation will pass."

"So it you were holding any faint hope that the bill might somehow be defeated, it is time to put those dreams aside and move on. That's what the financial professionals are doing."

In that light, the advisor has been looking at selected income trusts that despite the tax rulings remain buy recommendations. He explains, "We have been recommending that investors start to weed out the weaker trusts from their portfolios, retaining only the cream of the crop.

"I regard Yellow Pages Income Fund (Other OTC:YLWPF) as one of the strongest income trusts. It controls a powerful franchise and, as a result of the acquisition of Super Pages a couple of years ago, has a virtual monopoly position in Canada.

Continue reading Global gains: Income from north of the border

Global gains: Income from north of the border originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, who have shared some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

Global expert John Christy -- editor of the Forbes International Investment Report -- has been very successful in selecting Indian outsourcing companies; two such firms -- Infosys (NASDAQ:INFY) and Wipro (NYSE:WIT) -- are both strong performing holdings in his model portfolio in recent years.

A third player in the sector -- Sify (NASDAQ:SIFY) -- has not shared in that success. Christy explains, "Sify shares got off to a decent start last year. But like other emerging market stocks, they got clobbered in the sell-off last May. Problem is, unlike the rest of the group, Sify never bounced back."

However, the company's prospects may be changing. He notes, "Sify's outsourcing business serves global companies like GE, Oracle, and Whirlpool, as well as local blue-chips such as Ranbaxy Laboratories, Bharti, and Jet Airways.

"It runs a chain of internet cafés throughout India and a family of internet portals. It also provides broadband access to about 200,000 homes. Sify's internet backbone reaches 186 cities across the country.

Continue reading Global gains: Outsourcing and Indian internets

Global gains: Outsourcing and Indian internets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors featured at the show, and I have been highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"Investors in Russia had more than New Year's Eve as a reason to party as 2006 came to an end, notes Ian Wyatt. "The Russian stock market closed at an all-time high, capping a year in which the dollar-based benchmark Russian Trading System index gained 70%."

The editor-in-chief of Big Idea Investing explains, "In most developing countries, such a gain would usually be a sign of speculators gone crazy, and a stern warning to take your money and run before the inevitable collapse.

"But that doesn't necessarily apply here. The MSCI Russell index has soared almost 500% in dollar terms over the last five years. Some of these returns stem from the rise in oil and gas prices, two commodities of which Russia has enormous reserves.

"It's a long way from 1992, when almost overnight the Soviet Union imploded. Fuel was added to the fire by oil prices, which had started a long climb to record levels. From just $8.8 billion in 1998, revenues from oil exports soared to more than $58 billion by 2004.

"Ford (NYSE:F) and Toyota (NYSE:TM) already have car plants in operation, and will soon be joined by General Motors (NYSE:GM). Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has made significant investments, and oil giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) said it plans to almost double its investment over the next decade to as much as $15 billion.

Continue reading Global gains: From Russia with love

Global gains: From Russia with love originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

"One of my favorite long-term growth themes is biofuels," says Elliott Gue, who believes this sector is "locked in a longer-term secular bull market." Says the editor of The Energy Strategist, "Among individual stocks in the biofuels sector, investors can look at Monsanto (NYSE:MON), Potash Corp. (NYSE:POT), Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) and Syngenta (NYSE:SYT).

"My basic outlook for all of these stocks is that pullbacks of 10% to 15% are possible from time to time, but I still I regard such selloffs as outstanding buying opportunities. In addition to these selections, I'm adding PowerShares Deutsche Bank Agricultural Fund (AMEX:DBA) to my biofuel coverage.

"The DB Agricultural Fund doesn't hold any stocks at all. This fund instead buys commodity futures contracts, a market where the majority of stock investors have little or no exposure. The fund holds a quarter of its assets in corn futures, a quarter in wheat, a quarter in soybeans, and a final quarter in sugar.

"These are the most-important traded agricultural commodities. Therefore, the fund is a good play on the overall bull market in agricultural commodities I see developing in coming years.

Continue reading Global gains: Power play on global agriculture

Global gains: Power play on global agriculture originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors featured at the show, and I will be highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

One of the most popular sectors among advisors at this year's World Money Show was telecom, and John Christy sees long-term opportunity in two leading cell phone makers.

The editor of The Forbes International Investment Report explains, "Fourth quarter earnings for mobile phone maker Finland's Nokia (NYSE:NOK) knocked the cover off the ball. Net income rose nearly 20% to $1.7 billion, beating analyst forecasts.

"And even though the average selling price for its handsets fell, NOK was still able to boost its profit margins. Nokia is also jacking up its dividend by 16%, and is buying back 4 billion euros worth of stock.

"Growth in the Asia-Pacific region topped 60% -- an encouraging sign that the company's strategy of focusing on emerging markets is paying off. Nokia is also planning to roll out a fresh new line of more than 30 handset models in 2007.

"Compare this to Motorola (NYSE:MOT), which has yet to come up with successful replacement for its popular RAZR phone, missed its latest quarter by a country mile, and is now under attack by activist investor Carl Icahn. I'd much rather own NOK.

Continue reading Global gains: Forbes expert sees cell phone profits

Global gains: Forbes expert sees cell phone profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show, where some 10,000+ investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the advisors who were featured at the show, and over the next week I will be highlighting some of their favorite investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

The international diversity of this top-tier conference is easily seen in this article, in which Adrian Day, a London-based advisor and editor of The Global Analyst looks at the prospects for a South African company with operations from China to Peru." Here's his review.

"Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) is easily my favorite South African stock, and it's not difficult to see why: It has the best mines with the lowest cost and longest life; solid management; a strong balance sheet (with an ongoing emphasis on cost control); and a vision for international growth.

"Recently, however, its shares have lagged; this was because of a large equity issue occasioned by a substantial South African acquisition. But now that equity issue is concluded, we can buy again.

"Gold Fields has a focus on a few large, long-life assets, both in South Africa and internationally. Its recent $3 billion acquisition of the very deep and long-life South Deep mine has resulted in a jump in the share of its production from South Africa, as well as a significant increase in its share count and its debt.

Continue reading Global gains: South African gold

Global gains: South African gold originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I've just returned from the World Money Show in Orlando where more than 10,000 investors gathered to learn about global investing. I had a chance to meet with many of the U.S. and foreign financial experts featured at the show, and over the next week I will share some of their top investment ideas. To view all of the stocks featured in this special global report, click here.

With his conservative yet top-performing long-term performance record, Jim Stack cautions that this is not a low-risk market. Yet, the editor of Investech Market Analyst sees value in the renamed Bell Canada (NYSE:BCE).

"Although our key technical indicators in breadth and leadership are surprisingly bullish at present, we also see recessionary warning flags from a slowing economy, struggling housing market, and the inverted yield curve. As such, this is not a low-risk market.

"Therefore, we've maintained a moderate cash buffer this year and focused on defensive sectors -- in line with our commitment to following a safety-first strategy and protecting our bull market gains of the last three years. One stock that we have chosen to upgrade to a buy is BCE, which is changing its name to Bell Canada Inc.

"As background, the Finance Minister of Canada surprised the market with an official announcement that Canada was planning for the first time to tax dividends on income trusts. The move was aimed at closing a loophole that is costing the Canadian government over C$500 million in lost corporate-tax revenue.

Continue reading Global gains: Jim Stack dials up Canada

Global gains: Jim Stack dials up Canada originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.