stock exchange

Japanese stock markets remain volatile along with global markets. As well, a slowing U.S. economy plus a continued rise in the yen in relation to the falling U.S. dollar would hurt Japan’s major export industries. However, overall, we think that Japan’s economy will keep growing and push stock prices up. JAPAN EQUITY FUND $7.39 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Lately, the fund has added to its holdings of firms selling to emerging markets, to offset exposure to the slowing U.S. economy. It has also upped its holdings of Japanese financial stocks. These have limited exposure to subprime-related securities. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings include: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial, Sony Corp., Denso Corporation, Mitsubishi Corp., Canon, East Japan Railway, Komatsu Ltd. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co....

SWISS HELVETIA FUND $16.50 (New York symbol SWZ; CWA Rating: Conservative) invests mainly in large-capitalization Swiss stocks. The manager of the fund is Hottinger Group, which, as Banque Hottinger, dates back to 1786. The Swiss economy has picked up lately, despite slower growth in the U.S., one of Switzerland’s largest markets. Switzerland will likely show growth of 2.5% in 2007, just under its 2.6% growth in 2006. Still, a longer-term recovery in the U.S. will help the export-oriented Swiss economy even further. The fund’s top holdings are Nestle SA (food & beverages), 10.7%; Roche Holdings (pharmaceuticals) at 9.7%; UBS AG (banking), 6.9%; Novartis AG (health care and pharmaceuticals), 6.3%; Galenica Holding (Swiss pharma), 5.6%; Actelion NV (Swiss biopharma), 5.4%; Basilea Pharaceutica (biopharma), 5.2%; Credit Suisse Group (financial services), 4.4%; OC Oerlikon Corp. (Industrial technology), 3.8%; and Syngenta AG (agribusiness), 3.0%....

JAPAN EQUITY FUND $7.83 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings include: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial, Sumitomo Corp., Nomura Holdings, Mitsubishi Corp., Canon, East Japan Railway, Komatsu Ltd., and Nippon Steel. Japan Equity Fund is available for 7% less than the current value of its assets. It’s a buy.

Japanese stock markets remain volatile along with global markets. As well, a slowing U.S. economy would hurt Japan’s major export industries. However, overall, we think that Japan’s economy will continue to grow and push stock prices up. JAPAN EQUITY FUND $7.83 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings include: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial, Sumitomo Corp., Nomura Holdings, Mitsubishi Corp., Canon, East Japan Railway, Komatsu Ltd., and Nippon Steel....

INDIA FUND $64.75 (New York symbol IFN; CWA Rating: Aggressive) dropped about 14% from $59 to $51 recently after Indian securities regulators proposed a tightening of regulations on overseas purchases of Indian stocks. However, it appears that the new measures will likely only temporarily slow foreign investment. The fund has since moved higher. Large inflows of foreign money have pushed up Indian stock markets to record levels this year. The Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex index is now at 19,834, up 43% since January. The capital inflows have also put upward pressure on inflation, and pushed up the value of the Indian rupee currency. We still like the long-term outlook for Indian stocks. The Indian economy is forecast to expand at a rate of approximately 8.4% in 2008. India Fund trades at a 6% discount to the value of its assets....

JAPAN EQUITY FUND $8.12 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings include: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Nomura Holdings, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Canon, Takeda Pharma, and NTT. Japan Equity Fund is available for 6% less than the current value of its assets. It’s a buy.

Japanese stock markets have moved down lately along with global markets. As well, recent election losses by the ruling Liberal Democratic-led coalition may slow some economic and social reforms. However, overall, we think that Japan’s economy will continue to grow and push stock prices up. JAPAN EQUITY FUND $8.12 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings include: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Nomura Holdings, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Canon, Takeda Pharma, and NTT....

SWISS HELVETIA FUND $17.44 (New York symbol SWZ; CWA Rating: Conservative) invests mainly in large-capitalization Swiss stocks. The manager of the fund is Hottinger Group, which, as Banque Hottinger, dates back to 1786. The Swiss economy has picked up lately, despite slower growth in the U.S., one of Switzerland’s largest markets. Switzerland’s growth rate is now forecast at 2.5% this year, just under its 2.6% growth in 2006. Still, a longer-term recovery in the U.S. will help the export-oriented Swiss economy even further. The fund’s top holdings are Roche Holdings (pharmaceuticals) at 12.2%; Nestle SA (food & beverages), 11.6%; UBS AG (banking), 10.4%; Novartis AG (health care and pharmaceuticals), 8.1%; Basilea Pharaceutica (biopharma), 6.5%; Actelion NV (Swiss biopharma), 5.3%; Credit Suisse Group (financial services), 5.3%; Galenica Holding (Swiss pharma), 4.8%; Julius Baer (Swiss-based private bank), 3.4%; and Syngenta AG (agribusiness), 3.3%....

SWISS HELVETIA FUND $20.07 (New York symbol SWZ; CWA Rating: Conservative) invests mainly in large-capitalization Swiss stocks. The manager of the fund is Hottinger Group, which, as Banque Hottinger, dates back to 1786. The Swiss economy has slowed lately, along with the U.S., one of Switzerland’s largest markets. Switzerland’s growth rate may slow to 1.5% this year, after growing at 3.0% in 2006. Still, a longer-term recovery in the U.S. will help the export-oriented Swiss economy, particularly if it stimulates growth in Europe, its largest market. The fund’s top holdings are Roche Holdings (pharmaceuticals) at 13.3%; Nestle SA (food & beverages), 12.5%; Novartis AG (health care and pharmaceuticals), 11.8%; UBS AG (banking), 9.9%; Basilea Pharaceutica (biopharmaceuticals), 5.1%; Credit Suisse Group (financial services), 4.8%; Actelion NV (Swiss biopharmaceutical), 4.5%; BKW FMB Energie (Swiss electricity generator), 4.4%; Galenica Holding (Swiss pharmaceuticals), 3.8%; and Julius Baer (Swiss-based private bank), 3.4%....

JAPAN EQUITY FUND $8.61 (New York symbol JEQ; CWA Rating: Aggressive) invests mostly in large capitalization stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Japan Equity Fund’s top holdings are: Toyota Motor, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Nomura Holdings, East Japan Railway, Canon, Takeda Pharmaceutical, NTT and Honda Motor. Japan Equity Fund is available for 2% less than the current value of its assets. It’s a buy....