gold stock tips from brokers 12 months ago

Anyone out there with some views or opinion on overseas gold plays like MUN, SNV and CXC (silver). Hard to get a read on the smaller overseas operated and controlled entities. Probably a bit of sovereign/corporate/start up risk until the company actually has runs on the board and a track record of production in my opinion but may be worth a small spec allocation in a portfolio.

I feel more comfortable with Australian run juniors with diligent management and directors and lower risk projects which is why I hold IGR.

Of note, if a notional $100,000 had been invested evenly in a portfolio of any of the 'experts' 5 or 6 stock selections then your portfolio would now be worth on average $32,000. Yep 4 of the 6 portfolios have lost between 72% and 75% of your hard earned (or borrowed) cash. Had a monkey put $100,000 into the ASX200 in Jan 08 at least he would have around $55k left.

Note1: The '04Feb09' prices I have added to the article below were current as of approx 2pm today not closing price.

Note2: I do not hold any of the below mentioned stock. I hold IGR and SRX only.

Craig James, Commsec
Rio Tinto (RIO) - Subject to takeover speculation from rival BHP-Billiton and rumours of takeover bids coming from China. Will also continue to benefit from Chinese industrialisation. Current: $137.24; Year High: $149.99 (Nov 07); Year Low: $69.35 (Jan 07). (04Feb09 $44.68)
Graincorp (GNC) - Hit hard by the drought in the last six months, but expectation of better seasonal conditions in 2008 should lift the stock beyond its highs. Current: $9.65; Year High: $14.12 (Jun 07); Year Low: $8.71 (Dec 06). (04Feb09 $5.27)
Leighton (LEI) - Significant work in progress, particularly in the cash-rich Middle East, and order books more likely to keep growing. Also benefits from Chinese industrialisation. Current: $63.40; Year High: $65.62 (Dec 07); Year Low: $19.24 (Jan 07). (04Feb09 $16.77)
Harvey Norman (HVN) - Will continue to benefit from digital good deflation and high Australian dollar. Current: $6.94; Year High: $7.25 (Nov 07); Year Low: $3.75 (Dec 06). (04Feb09 $2.13)
CSL (CSL) - Dominates global market for blood plasma products. Current: $35.87; Year High: $38.05 (Oct 07); Year Low: $18.99 (Dec 06). (04Feb09 $35.37)

Rick Klusman, Aequs Securities
Brambles (BXB) - Massive buyback and continued corporate interest to support stock. Has yet to reach full potential. Current: $11.70; Year High: $14.93 (Oct 07); Year Low: $10.60 (July 07). (04Feb09 $6.45)
Sinovus Mining (SNV) - Australian company investing in China. Has large silver prospects and is closing in on production. Newly listed. Current: 19c; Year High: 21c (Dec 07); Year Low: 19c (Dec 07). (04Feb09 3.3cents)
Regional Express (REX) - The forgotten airline in a climate of unprecedented growth. Is Australia's dominant regional airline with limited competitors and is a mining boom beneficiary. Current: $2.02; Year High: $2.88 (May 07); Year Low: $1.44 (Dec 06). (04Feb09 92cents)
Credit Corp (CCP) - Major debt collection agency that has been hammered this year, dropping its value by more than half. Big hopes for a strong 08/09. Current: $5; Year High: $12.99 (Jul 07); Year Low: $5 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 42cents)
Strathfield (SRA) - Sydney-based car audio retailer. New management and franchising showing improved returns. Current: 4.3c; Year High: 7.2c (Jan 07); Year Low: 3.5c (Sept 07). (04Feb09 0cents Voluntary Admin)

Merrill Lynch
News Corp (NWS) - Has new concrete earnings drivers, largely from MySpace and Sky Italia, and plenty of upside in the filmed entertainment division and cable networks. Current: $24.28; Year High: $32.60 (Feb 07); Year Low: $23.48 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 $11.31)
Bluescope Steel (BSL) - Expecting upside to steel prices, and if that comes, BSL doesn't need a big improvement in downstream profitability to reap the rewards. Current: $9.48; Year High: $12.65 (May 07); Year Low: $7.98 (Dec 06). (04Feb09 $3.34)
Alumina (AWC) - Offers the best exposure to its commodity with world class, low cost, long life bauxite and alumina assets. Analysts very bullish on the aluminium price outlook. Is also a potential takeover target. Current: $6.21; Year High: $8.88 (Jul 07); Year Low: $5.90 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 $1.04)
Macquarie Group (MQG) - Leverage to Asia looks enhanced and set to drive further strong growth, further opportunities to exploit pension fund demand for unlisted funds, and capital and asset turnover improvements all point to a strong year. Current: $80.08; Year High: $98.64 (May 07); Year Low: $61.90 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 $23.35)
Babcock & Brown Power (BBP) - Many reasons . . . spike in electricity prices likely over summer; its valuation looks attractive, as its focused on gas-fired generation, is well placed heading into a carbon-constrained Australia, and has excellent medium term growth options. Current: $2.75; Year High: $3.80 (May 07); Year Low: $2.49 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 6cents)

Peter Switzer, Switzer Financial Services
Westpac (WBC) - A company that has been a positive performer and the arrival of Gail Kelly as the new CEO should give the bank a spring clean effect. Her track record at St George was outstanding. Current: $29; Year High: $31.32 (Nov 07); Year Low: $23.35 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 $16.42)
BHP-Billiton (BHP) - The company continues to play a strong hand with a global economy driven by demand for commodities. Current: $42.05; Year High: $47.70 (Oct 07); Year Low: $23.86 (Jan 07). (04Feb09 $30.00)
Babcock & Brown (BNB) - A company whose many offshoot listed companies have been given strong thumbs up from expert analysts who understand the complexities of the niche industries they operate in. Current: $27.42; Year High: $34.78 (Jun 07); Year Low: $17.60 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 32 cents)
Oxiana (OXR) - A gold and copper producer and most of my broker colleagues believe 2008 will be another year for commodities. Often mentioned in dispatches. Current: $3.80; Year High: $4.32 (Nov 07); Year Low: $2.60 (Mar 07). (04Feb09 OZL 55 cents Suspended)
Destra Corporation (DES) - My only small cap, speculative stock offering. I have interviewed its CEO, Dominic Carosa, and he is a very tech-savvy guy who understands the new media. And the likes of Lachlan Murdoch and Prime Television have bought into the company. Current: 27c; Year High: 43c (Jul 07); Year Low: 20c (Mar 07). (04Feb09 0 cents Voluntary Admin)

Fat Prophets
Cockatoo Coal (COK) - When all the takeover activity settles, emerging players like COK will come into play in the sector. The market will start to appreciate the value of its currently stranded coal reserves in Queensland. In addition, Cockatoo's board and share register reads like a resources who's who. Current: 63.5c; Year High: 68c (Dec 07); Year Low: 15c (May 07). (04Feb09 29.5 cents)
Mundo Minerals (MUN) - This emerging gold producer is set to produce its first gold from its brand new Engenho gold project in Brazil early next year. We would anticipate a significant re-rating once production commences. Current: 79c; Year High: 93c (Oct 07); Year Low: 25c (Feb 07). (04Feb09 17 cents)
Image Resources (IMA) - We believe 2008 will have more interest in mineral sands, a commodity that tends to move later in the commodity cycle. This is our best bet in the sector as it is a one-stop shop for a mineral sands player wanting to significantly boost its reserve base. Current: $1.88; Year High: $2.62 (Feb 07); Year Low: $1.45 (Aug 07). (04Feb09 40 cents)
Coeur Dalene (CXC) - We remain bullish on precious metals, including silver, and believe Coeur provides investors with solid exposure with its lucrative operations in North and South America and Australia. Current: $4.91; Year High: $5.20 (Dec 07); Year Low: $4.91 (Dec 07). (04Feb09 $1.11)

Credit Suisse
Tower (TWR) - The multi-pronged insurer has back-tracked all year and should be tracking towards a $3.54 target. Current: $2.03; Year High: $2.39 (Feb 07); Year Low: $1.61 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 $1.37)
Iluka Resources (ILU) - Has eight mining operations and six processing operations centred around mineral sands. Current: $4.43; Year High: $6.89 (Dec 06); Year Low: $3.91 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 $4.10)
Record Realty (RRT) - An investment vehicle managed by Allco targeting properties with stable long-term cash flows from tenants. Current: 68.5c; Year High: 95c (Sept 07); Year Low: 68.5c (Dec 07). (04Feb09 less than 1 cent)
Zinifex (ZFX) - Recently moved from the sell pile due to its backtracking. Current: $14.05; Year High: $21.60 (July); Year Low: $13.74 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 OZL 55 cents Suspended)
Perilya (PEM) - The owner and operator of the Broken Hill zinc, lead and silver mine. Strong year predicted. Current: $3.26; Year High: $5.80 (Jan 07); Year Low: $2.76 (Nov 07). (04Feb09 17.5 cents)