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"The latest annual rate of inflation measured from last July to this July was 5.6%, the largest annual gain since way back in January 1991," observes Alexander Green.

Here, the investment director for the industry-leading The Oxford Club suggests that investors consider the iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund (ASE: TIP), noting, "This is a great way to buy a diversified portfolio of inflation-adjusted Treasuries and track them quite easily."

"The latest consumer price index figures were a bit of a shock; the annual rate of inflation measured from last July to this July was 5.6%, the largest annual gain since way back in January 1991.

"Despite these horrendous inflation figures, gold, mining shares and other inflation-sensitive indicators did nothing – or even fell. What gives?

"Remember that the market is always looking forward, not back. Investors are always more concerned with what lies ahead than what happened in the recent past. Next month or next year may be a different story entirely.

"That's why every investor should have a hedge in his portfolio, like inflation-adjusted Treasuries. These bonds are unique in the investment world. They are the only investment guaranteed to beat inflation. And they are great portfolio diversifiers. They don't march in step with either stocks or bonds.

"We continue to apply our value-oriented principles in selecting new growth stocks as we look for companies with superior profitability and strong balance sheets," says Jim Stack.

In his InvesTech Market Analyst, he and analyst Bruce Morison explain, "Our latest featured investment, Charles Schwab Corp. (NASDAQ: SCHW), is a prime example and stands out as a conservative way to access to opportunities in the battered financial group."

"We are increasing our equity allocation in stocks that should show strong relative performance in a market upturn.

"We continue, however, to be very selective in terms of quality, as well as downside risk. Over the past 20 years, brokerage/asset management firms have produced more than twice the return of the market following a bear market.

"The Charles Schwab brand is one of the most well-known and trusted names in the financial services industry. Its strategy is to be competitively priced, but more importantly to be positioned as the gold standard in client service and integrity.

"While watching the Olympics, I couldn't thinking about the investment opportunities of the various countries participating in the games," says exchange-traded fund expert Carl Delfeld.

Recognizing that this is not a "scientific" approach nor a primary basis for seriously determining one's asset allocation the editor of Around the World with ETFs speculates, "While it is admittedly a stretch, let's consider what an ETF porfolio of the top ten countries in the Beijing Olympics medal count would look like."

"I hope that while watching the Olympic games many investors were also reminded at how the world is changing and why they need a global portfolio to capture value and growth around the world.

"The U.S. did remarkably well across the board underscoring its role as the world's leading investment destination. China surged to win the most gold and reach the symbolic level of 100 medals.

"Quite an achievement that punctuates China's growing heft. With the Shanghai Composite down 55% this year, it has come down to earth and is interesting from a valuation perspective.

"Next comes Russia with a performance fueled by a strong Olympian tradition and petro dollars but perhaps a bit overshadowed by the Georgian fiasco. I will take a pass on this one even though it is off 36% since just May.

"At the Morningstar Investment Conference, I had a chance to hear directly from manager of several of our 'best buy' funds," says fund expert Mark Salzinger.

In his The No-Load Fund Investor, he discusses a pair of "contrarian" funds: Dodge & Cox Stock (DODGX) and T. Rowe Price Equity Income (PRFDX) recommended for long-term investors.

Salzinger explains, "The managements of these equity funds are sticking to its guns. In the case of Dodge & Cox Stock, this means a continuation of a contrarian focus on large out-of-favor stocks. often in equally out-of-favor sectors.

"In the case of T. Rowe Price Equity Income, this means a continuation of focus on high quality companies that appear historically cheap based on various levels of valuation, including their dividend yield relative to the market.

"Charles Pohl, the chief investment officer of Dodge & Cox and a member of the portfolio management team on DODGX, spoke strongly about what he considers to be the attractive opportunities in financials now that the sector is so out of favor.

"He says that the Dodge & Cox team is focusing on intense analysis of companies within subsets of the financial services industry, looking for stocks that have been beaten down with their peers despite superior operations, including safer historical underwriting standards.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"To play the classic semiconductor-cycle (buying on a down-cycle and selling after an up-cycle), go with NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA)," say Ron Rowland and Brandon Clay.

The editors of All Star Investor explain, "This graphic chip manufacturer stumbled earlier this year, but we find a compelling a turnaround story." Here's his review.

"This is a difficult environment for short-term investors. When the Dow jumps up 200 points one day, and crashes 200 points the next, it's hard to tell where to turn. Calling bottoms is nearly impossible

"In this market, we have become value investors -- seeking an inexpensive company that's almost-undiscovered by mainstream investors.

"Technology is not typically known as a place for value. In fact, quite the opposite. Since the Tech crash, a shift has happened. Certain semiconductors have been hammered over the past several years -- especially in the last 12 months.

"One of those, a leader in graphics chips, has been especially beaten down. NVIDIA fell from a 52-week high of $39.67 last October. The Santa Clara-based chip designer is now trading around $12.00 today. Did it really deserve the punishment the market delivered? We don't think so.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"For more than a decade, International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) lived up to its reputation as a slow-growing, stodgy company," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of the blue chip advisory, Dow Theory Forecasts, contends, "But over the last 12 months, the picture changed. Strong operating momentum is now propelling genuine operational growth despite U.S. economic weakness."

"Acquisitions and cost cuts have accounted for most of IBM's growth in recent years. In the 10 years ended 2006, sales increased at an annualized rate of less than 2%, and the company lost both market share and influence.

"However, sales growth has accelerated in each of the last three quarters, and per-share profits have risen at least 23% in each period. Consensus estimates, trending upward over the last month, project per-share-profit growth of 24% in 2008 and 11% in 2009.

"A broad business mix has helped the company keep growing during the economic slowdown. IBM may still be best known for its hardware, but the company's strength over the last year has stemmed from the services and software businesses, which tend to be less economically sensitive than hardware.

"Hardware accounted for about 18% of sales in the six months ended June, while services represented 58% and software generated 20%. Financing operations brought in most of the last 4%.

"While the current economic climate has pinched the consumer, companies are still investing heavily in new technology. IBM's products and services help customers improve efficiency, productivity, and security, which in turn can reduce costs. In the six months ended June, IBM's revenue rose 12%, while per share-profits jumped 34%. Revenue from services increased 17% in the six-month period.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"Technically, Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) is now set up nicely in a base for a breakout," says Leo Fasciocco, a technical analyst who specializes in stocks breaking out above previous resistance levels.

In his Ticker Tape Digest, the newsletter advisor explains, "ORCL is in a good spot to be accumulated for a breakout, supported by favorable earnings prospects. And as a big cap play, it is most suitable for conservative investors."

"Oracle, based in Redwood City, California, sells a wide range of enterprise software solutions, including databases, middleware, and applications. With annual revenues of $22.4 billion, ORCL is one of the largest software companies. Its updates and product support are the most profitable segment of its operations. It accounts for 46% of revenues.

"The company has an active acquisition program that is a fundamental component of its strategy. ORCL has spent more than $28 billion in acquisitions the last four fiscal years.

"The stock's long-term chart shows a powerful run up to 40 during the 2000 bull market. It then went south with the stock market. It has since been working its way back. Short-term, the stock rallied from 18 to 23 and has formed a cup-and-handle base. That type of pattern is sometimes found with big caps. The stock is now set up nicely in a base for a potential breakout.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"It's time to watch for buying opportunities -- and one of the companies on my personal list is Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM), whose shares are in buying range right now," says analyst Glenn Rogers.

The contributing editor to Gordon Pape's Internet Wealth Builder explains, "This semiconductor maker is a good choice for investors who would like to add to their information technology position with shares of a first-class company."

"Broadcom, located in Irvine, California, designs semiconductors for the wired and wireless communications industry. It is a major supplier to Apple's iPhone, which has taken the world by storm this past year.

"Specifically, it powers the brilliant display screen that has captivated users since the launch of the iPhone last year. (Full disclosure: I've just picked up my new 3G iPhone.)

"It also provides the chip that delivers the GPS navigation in the new iPhone. The company holds over 2,000 U.S. and foreign patents and has more than 7,400 pending patent applications.

"But Broadcom is not just an iPhone supplier. It also powers the Motorola TV set top boxes, Netgear wireless routers, Bluetooth and Blu-ray applications, digital television, VOIP, etc. There are lots of chipmakers out there but Broadcom operates in the areas that offer the highest growth potential and the least commoditization in this sector.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"I think Wall Street has made a poor assessment of Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI)," says Paul McWilliams. Here's a look at the chip maker from his technology-focused newsletter, Next Inning.

"Analog Device's top line guidance came in a bit below Wall Street expectations. However, I think the problems are between the Hudson and East Rivers and not in Norwood, Massachusetts, the hometown of Analog.

"What Wall Street appears to be missing is that since ADI has sold off some of its lower profit business units, its seasonal sales patterns have changed. ADI is now again driven by industrial market sectors much more than it was even just last year.

"Therefore, its conservative guidance of flat to up 3% sequentially shouldn't have been a big surprise nor a cause for concern. As a matter of fact, with its minimal exposure to PC and consumer markets, I think flat to up 3% is pretty good.

"What Wall Street would be better to focus on are the operational improvements ADI has made. In its July quarter, ADI improved its pro forma operating margin to 26.5% from 26.2% last quarter and again reduced its inventory, which sits now at the lowest level we've seen since 2004.

This post is part of a report entitled "Six-pack of technology favorites." You can read about the other top tech stock picks here.

"The semiconductor industry has been under pressure now for sometime, but one of the fastest growing businesses within semiconductors has been in programmable logic devices (PLDs)," notes wireless sector specialist Nikhil Hutheesing.

In The Forbes Wireless Stock Watch, he explains, "One of the top companies in this business is San Jose, California-based Altera (NASDAQ: ALTR). Here's his bullish review.

"These PLDs are chips that allow software developers to use inexpensive software tools to quickly develop, simulate, and test their designs. Then, a design can be quickly programmed into the chip and immediately tested in a live circuit.

"Unlike other chips, PLDs are based on re-writable memory technology. That means that if a designer wants to change the design on the chip, the device can be easily reprogrammed.

"Once the design is final, customers can go into immediate production by simply programming as many PLDs as they need with the final software design file. The result is that a final design can be completed much faster and less expensively than that of a custom, fixed logic device.

"While Altera also manufacturers other kinds of chips, it's the PLD business that could really boost the company's business. Eventually, Altera plans to replace the ASIC business entirely with PLDs.

With concerns over recession, turmoil in the financial sector, fear of rising rates, high market volatility and a rising aversion to risk, many investors have been avoiding technology stocks.

Investors have feared that these economic headwinds will dampen both consumer spending for technology products and reduced capital expenditures for technology in the corporate sector.

Despite these concerns, some of the newsletter industry's leading advisors are looking beyond the current malaise and seeing longer-term value in some of the tech sector's leading players. They believe that much of the "bad news" is already reflected in the price of the shares, with little recognition being given to their longer-term potential.

For those willing to go against the crowd and buy, as they say, "while blood is running in the street," we offer a six-pack of technology stocks that the some top advisors considers to be among their favorite ideas.

"We are moving headlong into oil," notes John Reese, who analyzes stocks based on the criteria used by "legendary" investors such as Buffett, Graham and Lynch.

In his Validea newsletter, he says, "My fundamental models indicate that the oil industry is where the best values in the market are." Here's a look at W&T Offshore (NYSE: WTI), which is based on the criteria used by contrarian David Dreman.

"The economy and stock market have gone through a legitimate crisis because of the credit woes, and it takes time for something like that to work itself out.

"But the important thing to remember is that we've been through financial crises before -- even bad-debt financial crises like this one -- and the market has always stabilized and then pushed higher.

"And history has shown that those who can stick with the stock market through down times like these will be rewarded.

"David Dreman -- one of the gurus I base my strategies on -- notes in his recent Forbes column, 'If you pack up now, chances are you'll miss a good part of the next bull market. A large part of the gains are always made in the first few months of one, when market-timing investors are still on the sidelines.'

"Home prices are becoming affordable again, so the decline in prices is likely more than half over," say Dr. Marvin Appel and Gerald Appel of Systems & Forecasts.

Meanwhile, the technical experts believe that long-term investors can now look to get back into the real estate investment market and recommend two ETFs that are based on rental REITs.

"Many analysts do not expect the financial markets to improve significantly until home prices stop falling. The pace of existing home sales remains low, and available inventory relatively high, both indicating that buyers are not yet able to step into the market at current prices.

"However, that could change within a year. Home prices are becoming affordable again, so the decline in prices is likely more than half over.

"The median home price is now more affordable to the median household than at any time since the start of 2004. My analysis suggests that housing prices will have to fall a bit more, but the housing market is not far from being reasonably valued for the first time in five years.

"Recent valuations in financial stocks suggest either 'the world is coming to an end' or there are some great values," says Gregory Dorsey.

Here, the contributing editor to the top-notch Leeb's Income Performance Letter takes a look at one such "bargain" in the sector: U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB).

"So far, the financial sector has written off more than $300 million in assets. By some accounts the damage will rise to $1 trillion or more before all is said and done.

"The selloff, which at its nadir was marked by a 55% year-over-year decline in the KBW Index, pushed the constituent members down to a collective 0.64 times book value and a dividend yield of 9%.

"At those levels, either the world is coming to an end or there are tremendous bargains for investors with the courage of their convictions. Looking hard at the data, we can only conclude the latter is the case, provided you're careful with your investment choices.

"We've looked at several ways to play anticipated growth in wind energy; we've also considered titanium makers for that industry's ties to the production of lightweight, modern aircraft," notes Bill Martin.

In his BullMarket.com, he explains, "While the two trends might not appear to have much in common at first glance, Hexcel Corp. (NYSE: HXL) offers a way to play both the aircraft and wind markets.

"The connection is the lightweight, composite materials Hexcel makes that are used by producers in both sectors. Hexcel develops and manufactures advanced structural materials.

"It is the largest U.S. producer of carbon fiber; the world's largest weaver of reinforcement fabrics; and the number-one producer of composite materials.

"Its product was initially developed for the aerospace industry, but is now used in a wide range of applications -- from golf clubs to satellite arrays, and from the rotor blades of wind turbines to life-saving monocoques for Formula 1 race cars.

"It's been a rollercoaster ride for Hexcel's stock in the past 12 months. The shares hit their one-year peak of $27.19 in December 2007; by January 22nd they had plummeted to $17.. The shares rebounded through May, only to fade again. Year to date, HXL is off about 15%.