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December 15, 2003 | |
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Today's stock picks
come from Carl M. Birkelbach, Chairman
and CEO of Birkelbach Investment Securities
Inc. Mr. Birkelbach's analyses and
recommendations are below:
U.S. markets
since last October's low have risen some 33% for
the Dow, 57% for the Nasdaq and 36% for the
S&P. A repeat of this October's performance
is unlikely. However, most of the foreign
markets (expect for China) have not rallied
much.
The Japanese stock markets look
particularly promising, because their economy is
rebounding from what could be viewed as a
depression. The Nikkei average, having fallen
from a high of 40,000 in 1980 to a Bear market
low of 7603, is now at about 10,500.
The
Japanese economy after corporate downsizing
appears ready for a recovery. At least two
Japanese companies whose stocks are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange should share in this
expected upsurge:
Sony Corp. (NYSE:SNE),
a world leader in consumer electronics, has seen
its stock fall from a high of above 300 to its
current level of about 33. Earnings are expected
to rise from the current $1.00 level in 2004.
Sony's new laptop computers are state of the art
and expected to give Dell some competition.
Sony's business breakdown is as follows:
electronics 63%, music 13%, Columbia Pictures
8%, financial services 8% and the remainder
miscellaneous games. Sony pays a small 19 cents
dividend.
Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial
Group (NYSE:MTF) is a large bank holding company
that provides a full range of domestic and
international banking services. The stock, at a
current level of about 7, has been in a
downtrend along with other Japanese stocks and
banks. While showing deficits of 20 cents in
2001 and 30 cents in 2002, MTF in 2003 should
show earnings of about 42 cents. Next year looks
even better. With this positive turnaround and a
small dividend of 7 cents, the share looks
attractive.
As always, we urge our website
visitors to do their own research and exercise
due diligence. Check with your personal
financial consultant before making any decisions
on buying or selling investments. The opinions
expressed by our financial experts are not those
of WBBM Newsradio 780, Infinity Broadcasting, or
any of their affiliated companies. For
entertainment purposes only.
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