TD Waterhouse is offering free trades

If you open an account online at www.tdwaterhouse.com and type the offer code LSTP4M, TD Waterhouse will give you free trades for a month plus free reports from financial research providers such as Standard & Poor's Outlook and Five Stars Stocks. TD Waterhouse has received 5 stars in Kiplinger's Winter 2002 issue because of the amount and quality of their online research.

Standard & Poor's sees superior potential in these stocks

Genzyme Corp (GENZ, $48.11 on 12/29/2003) - Company makes drugs to treat genetic enzyme deficiencies. S&P expects a 30% earnings growth in 2004 with a 12-month target of $70. Target P/E 26.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc (MLNM, $17.95 on 12/29/2003) - Millennium sells Velcade for myeloma treatment and Integrilin for heart disease. S&P's 12-month target is $22.

Black & Decker Corp (BDK, $49.21 on 12/29/2003) - B&D moved production to countries with low labor costs and should benefit from an extended period of strenght in homebuilding. Yields 1.7%. Targeted at $55 in 12 months. Target P/E 11.

D R Horton Inc (DHI, $43.85 on 12/29/2003) - Horton is positioned in favorable markets demographically. S&P 12-month target: $44. Target P/E 9.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc (HET, $49.05 on 12/29/2003) - Harrah's is a very geographically diversified casino company and should stay strong. Stock yields about 2.5% dividend. 12-month target: $50. Target P/E 15.

La Quinta Corp (LQI, $6.42 on 12/29/2003) - La Quinta should benefit from a recovery in the travel industry. 12-month target: $9.

Procter & Gamble Co (PG, $98.24 on 12/29/2003) - The weakening dollar should provide additional strenght to this leading consumer products company. Yields 1.85%. S&P's target is $114 for the next 12 months. Target P/E 19.

Regis Corp (RGS, $39.27 on 12/29/2003) - Regis is a leader in the hair care industry with excellent earnings growth: 19% over the past 5 years. Target: $46. Target P/E 16.

Intel Corp (INTC, $31.36 on 12/29/2003) - Intel should benefit from an obsolete equipment replacement demand plus the increased chip categories demand for industries and consumer markets. Target: $42. Target P/E 30.

Microchip Technology Inc (MCHP, $32.30 on 12/29/2003) - Microchip is leader in the 8-bit microcontroler market and can win additional market share. Target: $42. Target P/E 33.

GENZ $48.11 on 12/29/2003	MLNM $17.95 on 12/29/2003
BDK $49.21 on 12/29/2003	DHI $43.85 on 12/29/2003
HET $49.05 on 12/29/2003	LQI $6.42 on 12/29/2003
PG $98.24 on 12/29/2003	RGS $39.27 on 12/29/2003
INTC $31.36 on 12/29/2003	MCHP $32.30 on 12/29/2003

ADRs from Chile, the most stable Latin American country

Company Name	Ticker	Sector
AFP PROVIDA SA	PVD	HOLDING & INVESTMENT COMPANIES
ALMENDRAL SA	ADRJF.PK	ELECTRIC UTILITY
BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA CHILE SA	BB	BANKS
BANCO DE CHILE	BCH	BANKS
BANCO SANTANDER CHILE SA	SAN	BANKS
CHILESAT CORP SA	CSA	TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CIA CERVECERIAS UNIDAS SA	CU	BEVERAGES
CIA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES DE CHILE SA	CTC	TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COCA-COLA EMBONOR SA	EMAZY.PK	BEVERAGES
CORPBANCA SA	CQBNY.PK	BANKS
CRISTALERIAS DE CHILE SA	CGW	PACKAGING & CONTAINERS
DISTRIBUCION Y SERVICIO D&S SA	DYS	RETAIL SERVICES
EMBOTELLADORA ANDINA SA	AKOB	BEVERAGES
EMBOTELLADORA ANDINA SA	AKOA	BEVERAGES
EMPRESA NACIONAL DE ELECTRICIDAD SA/CHILE	EOC	ELECTRIC UTILITY
ENERSIS SA/CHILE	ENI	ELECTRIC UTILITY
LAN CHILE SA	LFL	AIRLINES
MADECO SA	MAD	METAL FABRICATION
MASISA SA	MYS	BUILDING PRODUCTS & MATERIALS
QUINENCO SA	LQ	HOLDING & INVESTMENT COMPANIES
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE SA	SQM	CHEMICALS
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE SA	SQMA	CHEMICALS
SUPERMERCADOS UNIMARC SA	UNRMY.PK	FOOD PRODUCTS & SERVICES
VINA CONCHA Y TORO SA	VCO	BEVERAGES

Nanotechnology V

These heavy weights are the nanotechnology "blue chips" whose well-funded research may result in more patents and a competitive edge.

International Business Machines Corp (IBM, $93.14 on 12/21/2003) - IBM is researching carbon nanotubes and nanolithography and silicon nanoelectronics..

Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ, $22.18 on 12/21/2003) - HP is researching nanometer-scale structures and their properties..

General Electric Co (GE, $30.89 on 12/21/2003) - GE is researching nanotubes and wires, nano-electronics, nano-structures that emulate or behave like objects found in nature such as Velcro (biomimetics), nano-additives that will improve materials such as plastics..

Intel Corp (INTC, $30.57 on 12/21/2003) - Intel is researching nano-visualization.

Du Pont De Nemours & Co (DuPont) (DD, $44.80 on 12/21/2003) - Du Pont is researching carbon nanotubes and organic LEDs.

Caterpillar Inc (CAT, $84.75 on 12/21/2003) - The company certainly has interests in nanotechnology but I could not figure exactly what they are researching. Maybe they want to apply nanotech to reduce emissions, create advanced sensors, fuel cells and improved materials.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD, $52.38 on 12/21/2003) - The company has made a joint-venture investment with Nanotechnologies Inc, which makes nanoparticles for coatings, anti-microbial products, electronic materials and other applications.

Lucent Technologies Inc (LU, $2.90 on 12/21/2003) - They are researching optical fibers that eliminate the need for signal processing equipment using nano-imprint techniques and researching low cost, flexible and lightweight plastic electronic circuitry sheets.

Motorola Inc (MOT, $13.22 on 12/21/2003) - Motorola is researching carbon nanotubes.

3M Co (MMM, $84.07 on 12/21/2003) -3M is researching nano-composites for health applications.

Guidant Corp (GDT, $60.28 on 12/21/2003) - The company markets a heart defibrilator device (a direct competitor to Medtronic mentioned before).

Baxter International Inc (BAX, $30.66 on 12/21/2003) - Baxter is researching medical applications with nanotechnology, probably drug delivery (unconfirmed).

Honeywell International Inc (HON, $31.82 on 12/21/2003) - The company has an alliance with Zyvex and is developing microscale fabrication processes and is involved in a lot of projects.

Kraft Foods Inc (KFT, $31.37 on 12/21/2003) - Kraft formed the NanoteK research consortium focusing on the customization of food products. One nanotech application could be nanocapsules that contain certain flavors, colors or nutrients, which could be zapped by a microwave or some other method to deliver their payload.

IBM $93.14 on 12/21/2003	HPQ $22.18 on 12/21/2003
GE $30.89 on 12/21/2003	INTC $30.57 on 12/21/2003
DD $44.80 on 12/21/2003	CAT $84.75 on 12/21/2003
APD $52.38 on 12/21/2003	LU $2.90 on 12/21/2003
MOT $13.22 on 12/21/2003	MMM $84.07 on 12/21/2003
GDT $60.28 on 12/21/2003	BAX $30.66 on 12/21/2003
HON $31.82 on 12/21/2003	KFT $31.37 on 12/21/2003

Mr. Market's Christmas pick - KSWS

Mr. Market bought K-Swiss at 47.59 on December 18th. The company looks as good as their shoes: CFC is up 130% in the last 12 months and its P/E is just 20.
See what else is good about K-Swiss.

Mr. Market follows a well defined screening criteria for composing a universe of stocks, from which he picks 5 stocks and then picks one of the five. The five stocks he picked recently are: KSWS NICK AACE HAR RBKV.

KSWS $47.13 on 12/19/03	NICK $8.60 on 12/19/03
AACE $21.95 on 12/19/03	HAR $72.65 on 12/19/03
RBKV $32.00 on 12/19/03

John Mauldin talks about oil, stock prices and the dollar

Check it out!

Flamel, nano-encapsulation for drug delivery

Josh Wolfe, Co-Founder of Lux Capital and editor of the Forbes Nanotech Report, is recommending Flamel Technologies calling attention to the company's improved cash position.

It seems Merrill Lynch expects a 30% run on this stock.

Check it out!

Nanotechnology IV

Some more nanotechnology related stocks.

Medtronic Inc (MDT, $48.05 on 12/12/03) - Medtronic sells medical equipment for helping to treat chronic diseases. Medtronic's InSync implantable pacemaker uses a tiny machine called accelerometer that monitors heart activity and the pacemaker has received approval from a FDA advisory panel. Vice President Dick Cheney uses a pacemaker from Medtronic.

FEI Company (FEIC, $21.64 on 12/12/03) - FEI Company markets microscopy tools using charged particle beam technology and 3D Structural Process Management solutions for NanoMetrology and NanoFabrication. FEI's products allow advanced three-dimensional metrology, device editing, trimming and structural analysis for management of sub-micron structures including those found in integrated circuits, high density magnetic storage devices, industrial materials, chemical compounds and biological structures. These tools let researchers work and view at the nano scale. It is a nanotechnology infrastructure player like Veeco.

Cabot Corp (CBT, $32.35 on 12/12/03) - Cabot Corporation deals with specialty chemicals, performance materials and specialty fluids. Cabot acquired Superior MicroPowders, which provides materials to next generation fuel cell makers such as nanopowders and nanostructured coatings.

Pharmacopeia (PCOP, $12.50 on 12/12/03) - Pharmacopeia provides a software (Accelrys) that allow nanotech researchers to visualize, model and simulate matter at the nanoscale and this will be helpful for finding new materials, drug delivery and drug discovery.

Ultratech Inc (UTEK, $27.84 on 12/12/03) - Ultratech markets photolithography equipment for manufacturers of various nanotechnology components such as thin film head magnetic recording devices. The company has a nanotechnology stepper that was considered by MICRO Magazine one of the top 25 products in 2002.

Headwaters Inc (HDWR, $19.35 on 12/12/03) - Headwaters focus on converting fossil fuels such as gas, coal and heavy oils into alternative, less polutant fuels. Hydrocarbon Technologies, a subsidiary company, is using nanocatalysts to improve fuel manufacturing efficiency.

Competitive Technologies (CTT, $2.02 on 12/12/03) - Through licences and royalties, Competitive Technologies commercializes technologies in life, digital, nano and physical sciences. The company will market a nanoparticle bone biomaterial for skeletal repair. It is a sort of bone cement that hardens itself quickly stabilizing a fractured bone. Six major pharmaceutical companies are currently reviewing the product.

Nova Measuring Instruments (NVMI, $6.19 on 12/12/03) - Nova is an Israel company that produces measuring and control systems used in the semiconductor manufacturing. I am not sure the company can benefit from nanotechnology or if it has nanoetching capabilities!

Amcol International (ACO, $16.90 on 12/12/03) - Amcol produces caly composites for industrial, consumer and environmental markets. It owns Nanocor, a company that has about 30 patents and makes nanoclays as sag control additives for plastic resins used in packaging and flame retardants.

MDT $48.05 on 12/12/03	FEIC $21.64 on 12/12/03
CBT $32.35 on 12/12/03	PCOP $12.50 on 12/12/03
UTEK $27.84 on 12/12/03	HDWR $19.35 on 12/12/03
CTT $2.02 on 12/12/03	NVMI $6.19 on 12/12/03
ACO $16.90 on 12/12/03

Nanotechnology III

Since there are so many penny stocks related to the nanotechnology boom that are already up in big volume, I will list them today. Some of them are RISKY and NOT TRUE NANOTECH STOCKS!

Nano-Proprietary (NNPP.OB, $2.80 on 12/10/03) - Nano-Proprietary has over 100 patents and its subsidiary Applied Nanotech is developing the carbon nanotube technology for the manufacturing of flat screen displays, x-rays and microwave generators. The carbon nanotube also may have applications in biological sensors, nanotransistors, solar cells and fuel cells. There are rumors that its nano flat tv will be available by June 2004.

Nanopierce Technologies (NPCT.OB, $0.295 on 12/10/03) - BEWARE! Nanopierce Technologies is not a nanotechnology company. It developed the NanoPierce Connection System, a better way to make electronic connections that can replace conventional methods such as soldering, spring-loading or pin-in-hole connectors decreasing space requirements to 90% of the space spent in process today. Its NCS technology can be used in smart labels and the company even have a partnership to benefit from a RFID boom. This company can improve the chip making but it is not a nanotech stock.

Starpharma Pooled Development (SPHRF.PK, $0.47 on 12/10/03) - Starpharma is an Australian company that develops the dendrimers nanotechnology. Dendrimers are synthetic nanoscale structures made of molecules that branch out like trees. While regular polymers are chaotically formed, dendrimers are uniform. Their virtue is precision, but there are no known applications for dendrimers yet. It is said that dendrimers could be used to build microscopic capsules for drug delivery or to build nanoscale machines, but the cost to produce dendrimers has been prohibitive. Their dendrimer-based gel for prevention of HIV and STDs in women is expected to be available around 2007.

Obducat AB B Shares (OBDCF.PK, $0.19 on 12/10/03) - Obducat is a
Swedish company that supplies technologies for production and analysis of micro and nano structures and microelectronics. The market Scanning Electron Microscopes and nanoimprint lithography equipment (it writes nanoscale patterns on surfaces using electron beams).

Biophan Technologies (BIPH.OB, $0.43 on 12/10/03) - Biophan uses nanotechnology to shield magnetic resonance imaging devices and reduce interference that affect its images. Biophan's CEO will speak at the NanoCommerce 2003 (started December 9^th).

Royal BodyCare (ROBE.OB, $0.37 on 12/10/03) - Royal BodyCare markets nutritional supplements and oncology and personal care products. They have what they called nanoceuticals, which include molecular cages that release antioxidant dietary supplements when exposed to moisture and nanosized powders that reduce the surface tension of foods and supplements to increase nutrient absorption.

MFIC Corp (MFIC.OB, $1.55 on 12/10/03) - MFIC Corp produces systems for grinding materials for biotech and pharma companies. MFIC has just patented a device for the continuous production of nanoparticles and nanomaterials and is researching nanopolymer creation for drug delivery and other applications.

NanoSignal Corp (MSGL.OB, $0.11 on 12/10/03) - Formerly MicroSignal, NanoSignal markets MRI data processing software. In their announcement of name change, they said they were planning on developing 'nanotools' of medicine.

Pacific Fuel Cell Corp (PFCE.OB, $0.21 on 12/10/03) - Pacific Fuel Cell owns rights to its Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell technology. They developed a fuel cell using carbon nanotube-based electrodes that can reduce the cost of manufacturing fuel cells and they expect joint ventures to commercialize this technology.

US Global Nanospace (USGA.OB, $1.18 on 12/10/03) - US Global Nanospace develops anti-ballistic faceplates with nanoscale weaved material for vests, cockpit doors and land mine protection in military vehicles. Its nanofilters can reduce the spread of air spread infectious diseases in air travel and toxin transmission in tobacco products.

There are 9 more nanotechnology related companies that will be listed here soon.

NNPP.OB $2.80 on 12/10/03	NPCT.OB $0.295 on 12/10/03
SPHRF.PK $0.47 on 12/10/03	OBDCF.PK $0.19 on 12/10/03
BIPH.OB $0.43 on 12/10/03	ROBE.OB $0.37 on 12/10/03
MFIC.OB $1.55 on 12/10/03	MSGL.OB $0.11 on 12/10/03
PFCE.OB $0.21 on 12/10/03	USGA.OB $1.18 on 12/10/03

Scam Dogs & Mo-mo Mamas / Reverse Merger

This is the book I finished reading recently. Using a humorous tone, The Wall Street Journal senior writer, John R Emshwiller, describes the world of penny stocks trading (well, they are sold for pennies before pumped) in the days of the dot com boom when the internet trading was in its infancy.

In it, for the first time, I saw the "stock symbol" ABCD being mentioned: "Amalgamated Baloney and Consolidated Drivel". The wildlife of the internet stock trading is described and characters such as Tokyo Joe, Anthony@Pacific (short seller) and Steve Pluvia (short seller) are profiled. But most importantly, I read an explanation about reverse mergers.

A lot of companies went through the time-consuming and expensive SEC process to be listed as public companies. Many of these fail but still exist legally with (most likely worthless) shares in the market. Some private firms looking to go public contact these failed public companies and merge with them. The shell company "acquires" (sort of) the private company and the "owners" give the majority of the public company stock in exchange, effectively transfering the control to the owners of the private firm. Frequently, the new owners change the public company name to match the formerly private firm name.

That is a reverse merger. It is legal and used by legitimate business owners, but can also be used by crooks to avoid the government's attention.

The writer John R Emshwiller also is co-author of "24 Days", a book about the Enron crash.

Nice graphing tool for Comcast users

It was a nice surprise to see that Comcast has provided its customers with Interactive Charts 4.0, an advanced graphing tool - for FREE!

1. Go to www.comcast.net, log in and look at the upper left column.


2. Click Finance on the upper left corner and select Advanced Charts.


3. The Interactive Charts will pop up. You can even do Fibonacci retracements on it!



Now notice how TRCI has obeyed the retracement almost perfectly. I lost money on TRCI (my sell stop is usually less than 25%) but this tool could have convinced me to buy the stock again at the 61,8% retracement. It would have been a very profitable trade even after the initial loss. That is why I put a link to Stephen Pierce's Fibonacci Secrets here.