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Fifteen distressed European blue-chip stocks with depressed prices and single-digit P/E ratios are on the contrarian 'Dogs' list, including ENI, Lloyds Tsb Group, HSBC Holdings, and Aegon.

The shares of Novartis could gain in value as revenues from new products replace revenues from expiring drug patents. Novartis American Depositary prices could rise from $56 to $71 or higher.

Ferrari 458 Italia is a powerful and responsive car that features superb handling systems derived from Ferrari's extensive Formula One experience. The 458 has a top speed of 202 miles per hour and averages 14 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving. Base price of the Ferrari 458 is also mentioned.

Restaurant chain Denny's is experiencing a boardroom battle, with the management and dissident shareholders trading charges. The dissidents seek additional representation on the eight-member board, which has largely failed in its strategy of growing the company.

The shares of MTN Group appear attractive due to its position in the African telecommunications market. Its share prices, which were hurt by a strong South African rand and a failed merger with Bharti Airtel, could rise from 120 to 150 South African rand.

The average returns of participants in a semi-annual stock picking contest ended on 31 December 2009 beat the stock market returns for 2009. McAdams Wright, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Keegan were among the best-performing brokerage houses.

The shares of South African supermarket retailer Shoprite Holdings appear attractive due to the company's strong growth prospects . Shoprite's American depositary receipts trade at $17.75 each or at a price/earnings ratio of 13-15.

The shares of Germany's RWE have not risen as high as the broader market but analysts expect their earnings per share to rise 13% by 2011 and the shares could produce annual double-digit tatl returns or 20 to 30%. The shares also offer a beefy dividend yield of 6.6%.

Anadarko Petroleum and Tullow struck oil fields in Sub Saharan Africa. If the new wells top a billion barrels, then their shares remain undervalued and could rise more.

The acquisition of Solvay's pharmaceuticals business by Abbott Laboratories is likely to help the latter expand its business outside the US. The purchase, on the other hand, does not address Abbott's product pipeline issues.

A ranking of 13 Wall street brokers based on their best stock ideas is presented. For the six months which ended June 30, 2009, all of the 13 participants which include Wedbush Morgan, Morgan Keegan, and Goldman Sachs, all beat the market. The rankings go as far back as five years.

The shares of Paris-based conglomerate Vivendi are projected to move higher due to the strong growth prospects of its component businesses. The price of the company's American Depositary Receipts could rise from $25.55 to above $35.

Schlumberger's wide range of product and service offerings and their diverse geographic footprint make them likely to fare better in the international oil-exploration markets. Their shares sell at price/earnings valuations significantly below its historical median which provide a good opportunity for patient investors to buy it ahead of a global recovery.

Small-cap Canadian gold explorer Tanzanian Royalty has no revenue, no earnings, and no proven gold but its shares trade at a premium to its peers because of its CEO James E. Sinclair who has correctly forecasted gold prices. Sinclair believes that gold prioces will reach $1,650 an ounce by 2011 but the company's shares looks substantially overvalued when compared to others.

Memphis, Tennessee-based firm Morgan Keegan leads the ranking of 'Barron's' competition for the stock picking skills of stock brokers with a 13 percent return in the five-year contest. Keegan is followed by Morgan Stanley and Smith Barney with 2.73 and 1.65 percent return respectively.

A similar pattern is seen in the bear market during February 2008 and the one in early 2002 when the post 9/11 rally dissipated and stocks fell another 20 percent over several months. The capital markets are has recovered a bit as select companies who sold debt were met with decent investor demand. The investment method of picking 50 stocks of big, stable companies is examined.

The shares of Bank of Nova Scotia could rise from 30 to 36 Canadian dollars due to its sound financial fundamentals and strong international exposure. The bank is also the least exposed Canadian bank to US assets and gives out a 6.4% dividend yield.

US stock markets fell 1-2% amid low trading volumes as 2008 drew to a close. The shares of Saks Fifth Avenue could recover from $3.82 to as much as $7 if the US economy recovers. The Standard & Poor's 500 index registered its ninth losing fourth quarter in 2008, dropping by 25%.

The shares of Millicom International Cellular could rise as it has much room for growth in developing countries. The company's shares could rebound by more than 25% from their $41.79 level.

The U.S. automobile industry October 2008 sales figures are down 32 percent from the previous year. General Motors' U.S. sales dropped 45 percent in the same period and a third-quarter loss of $2.5 billion. One analyst says that these figures make it clear that the company is headed into bankruptcy without government intervention.

The shares of Societe Generale may rise by as much as 20% from its recent price of 42.26 euros upon stabilization of the financial markets. The bank appears unscathed by the global credit crisis and has 1.1 trillion in assets, although the extent of the bank's credit problems remains unclear.

Seven luxury automobiles are tested including the $122,150 Audi R8, the $60,000 Cadillac CTS-V, and the $72,000 Escalade Hybrid. The Audi A8 displays terrific acceleration and can easily handle twists and turns thanks to its full-time all-wheel drive. The Cadillac CTS-V offers impressive stability and control while cornering at high speed.

Raymond James Financial tops the returns performance of a focus list of U.S. stockbrokers for the January-June 2008 period and in the 12 months leading to June 30, 2008. Investing in energy stocks and avoiding financial stocks and consumer-related picks boosted many rankings. The rankings and the performance of the focus list of brokers is discussed.

The shares of Geox fell 60 percent from its October 2007 high of 16.50 Euros to just 7 Euros but these valuations underestimate the company's growth potential and earnings power as well as its attractive balance sheet. Annual sales and profit gains within 15 to 20 percent could boost the shares to a range of 9 to 11 Euros.

Shares of Zurich Financial Services may rise as much as 25% from their level of 317 Swiss francs if the company continues to deliver strong earnings and high return on equity. The company's shares have been unfairly treated by investors despite its minimal exposure to subprime debt.

Bear Stearns and Goldman Sachs made the best stock advice in 2007 but Morgan Keegan and Matrix USA lost 17 and 11 percent respectively for the second half of 2007. Bear Stearns benefited from avoiding financial stocks and choosing technology stocks such as Apple, Nokia, and Waters.

Assets in European-listed exchange traded funds (ETF) grew 40 percent in the first nine months of 2007 reaching around $126 billion from $90 billion at the end of 2006. ETFs give investors broad exposure to specific sectors and the costs are relatively modest because these do not have any sales loads.

Clas Olsson and Jason Holzer have successfully managed the AIM European Growth fund, with the fund returning over 19% annually on average. The fund is made up of 80 to 100 stocks of all capitalization levels.

Delta Petroleum shares of stocks could decrease further for about 20%, given its history of overpromising and underperforming on gas production. Despite the fact that the company lacks prospecting aptitude, it continues to trade at high valuation compared to its peers. Details of losses and earnings for 2007 are presented.

Fourteen brokers were ranked on their stock recommendations using data gathered by Zacks Investment Research. Rookie winner of the past ranking, Matrix USA, has ranked first again for the six-month and 12-month periods, while Morgan Keegan and Goldman Sachs finished first for the three-year race and five-year race, respectively. Complete list of the rankings and details of the brokers' performances are presented.

Heelys Inc., maker of the popular sneakers with built-in wheels, trimmed its 2007 growth outlook to 10%-15%. Heelys also announced high inventories at its stores causing a 48% drop in its stocks. The overall financial performance of Heelys in the past year, as well as company forecasts, is discussed.

The impact of possible merger of Barclays and ABN AMRO Holding N.V. on the stock performance of both the companies is analyzed.