There Is More to Brazil Than Carnival
As the U.S. economy continues to struggle, investors are looking abroad for investment opportunities. While most of the attention is on China and its growing economy, one of the best opportunities is in the Western Hemisphere.
I am talking about Brazil.
Brazil has the tenth-largest economy in the world and the third-largest economy in the Americas. The GDP of Brazil grew at a rate of 5.4 percent in 2007, and is predicted to grow at a rate of 5 percent in 2008.
Though this rate of growth isn’t as high as China’s 11.4 percent, the rate of inflation is much lower in Brazil than in China. Brazil’s rate of inflation is currently running at 4.46 percent versus China’s rate of 8.7 percent.
While China may have time before its economy overheats, Brazil’s growth rate looks much more sustainable.
The easiest way to play the Brazilian market as a whole is to buy an exchange traded fund (ETF). The most-watched ETF for Brazil is the iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund (EWZ). This ETF has pulled back of late, giving investors a chance to get in on a dip. The EWZ has found support at its 50-week moving average several times over the last few years, and is approaching that support level now.
If you are looking for some exposure to the foreign markets, look to buy shares of the EWZ on this recent dip.
[Ed. Note: Don’t worry about the economy – you can still make money with your investments. And it’s simpler than you may think. Let investing expert Rick Pendergraft show you the secret to a better, more financially secure life.]Rick Pendergraft
Inspired by his high school economics teacher, Rick Pendergraft fell in love with the markets at an early age. He entered his first investing competition at 17, and opened his first brokerage account before he finished college. At the age of 23, on the third options trade he had ever placed, Rick turned $1,800 into $22,000 in less than a week, when the company he bought became the target of a takeover. He admits it was a stroke of luck, but it was a memorable education as to the leverage that options can provide. After a ten year career in banking, Rick decided to pursue trading full-time. To get his foot in the door, he started out in the sales department at Schaeffer's Investment Research. It was not long before his talent was recognized and he was invited to apprentice under Bernie Schaeffer, one of the top options traders in the world. Rick thrived in his new position and twice received the award for "Top Trader."Rick has developed a loyal following of readers who are grateful for his timely warnings and profitable advice. He is widely recognized as a market expert and has been frequently quoted by Reuters, BusinessWeek, Forbes, USA Today, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. Rick's primary focus is on identifying short and intermediate term rising and falling trends in the major market sectors. His analysis is based on technical factors along with indicators of market sentimentRick lives near Delray Beach, FL with his wife and three children.