TOSSED by rollicking markets, investors need follow only one...

TOSSED by rollicking markets, investors need follow only one guide in 2015 — Uncle Sam, the epitome of the US government, to lead markets to sanity and success in the year ahead.
Fuelled by plentiful oil and gas, and a bagful of dollars, Uncle Sam’s citizens will buy the cars, build the houses and run the computers to reinvigorate the world’s economies. The US market might have run up strongly already on such thoughts, and the world still faces OPEC oil floods, an anxious Europe and a dozy Japan, but America still looks like the place to be.
At home, look for the jewels in consumer-focused stocks that will pick up on lower petrol prices, low interest rates, solid home building and an improving job market. Bold voices such as CommSec have suggested the ASX 200 index will nudge 6000 by the year’s end, while UBS suggests 5700.
The Weekend Australian has canvassed its staff and contributors in the quest for enlightenment on where to tread on the slippery paths of 2015. Please select according to taste and risk tolerance.

ONLINE OPERATIVES
Optimism abounding
1. Iproperty (IPP)
Operators of market-leading online property portals in Southeast Asia, which corral online buyers and sellers for property listings. Appears well placed to snare property advertising that elsewhere in the world is stampeding away from newspapers towards online. Rated a buy by Morningstar.

2. Shoply (SHP)
A rare pure-play online shopping exposure, Shoply has grown since its debut in 2013 in moving from an internet advertising house to acquire related businesses Your Home Depot, Warcom and Wow.baby.com.au. Its competition includes Asia-focused iBuy (E88) and Grays eCommerce (GEG), the latter formed from the merger of Mnemnon (Deals Direct and Top Buys) and Grays. Criterion rates Shoply a spec buy.

3. Skyfii (SKF)
A consumer-data play, where shopping centre owners, advertisers and business owners see where consumers are browsing and buying in shopping centres. Compiles the data by tracking connections to digital, WiFi, e-commerce and social media sites. Trading above its November listing price, revenue generating and perhaps profits in time. Has plans for a joint venture deal in Indonesia, and is eyeing South Africa and Brazil.

TECHNOLOGY TIDDLERS
Thoughtful times
4. Carnegie Wave (CWE)
The oil price slump aside, Carnegie shares have been firming in the wake of the commissioning of the wave power group unit off Garden Island near Perth. A second unit is due on stream within weeks, to deliver power to the nearby naval base in the New Year. A spec buy from Criterion.

5. NextDC (NXT)
Runs big data centres that host companies’ computer servers in the cloud, which cuts the need for businesses to invest in their own IT infrastructure. Has enjoyed strong revenue growth and is poised for profitability.

6. Praemium (PPS)
A software company that offers investment administration and financial planning technology platforms for the financial services industry. It operates in Australia, Britain, Jersey and Hong Kong.
Debt free and enjoying revenue growth of about 12 per cent a year over the past three years, one of its longstanding customers has extended its contract for a further five years with a minimum contract value of $3m a year. A retail product targeting SMSFs may be a catalyst for long-term growth, suggests Wise-owl.

7. YPB Systems (YPB)
An anti-counterfeiting business, which detects frauds through the use of tracers, covert markers and technology in the mass-dollar problem areas of food, cosmetics and clothing. A buyer can check if a grocery line is the real thing, even if it is only soap powder. A recent listing, it is already a revenue generator.

BOLD CALLS
Who knows what tomorrow might bring?
8. Arena REIT (ARF)
The stable and favourable long-term outlook for the childcare and healthcare industries will underpin ARF’s long-term cashflows and sustain its distributions to security holders. While changes to government regulation and profitability of its key tenants will present risks, ARF believes that they will be able to manage these risks through active monitoring and broadening of its tenant base. Liked by Lincoln Indicators.

9. Berkeley Resources (BKY)
A growing high-grade uranium resource, outstanding management team, strong cash at bank and infrastructure-ready makes BKY’s Spanish project the standout stock in the uranium space. Liked by Argonaut Securities.

10. Metcash (MTS)
Retailing’s third force has slipped recently on failing to reach market expectations, but a new chief executive could achieve a turnaround. A spec buy from Criterion.