2009 Guru Predictions

Coming off a horrible 2008, the Gurus are hoping to make a comeback in 2009. In the real world, I'd hope that most of these folks would have some stops in mind in case these picks don't work. Of course, most folks don't trade that way in reality and "hope" that their losses will rebound and they can somehow get even. But that's not what these TV segments are about. These picks usually represent the stocks to buy for the calendar year.

Here are the stocks to own from the Fox Business Block gurus and closing prices on 12/31.

Bulls and Bears

• Gary B. Smith: Fannie Mae (FNM: $.76)
• Tobin Smith: Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR: $19.80)
• Pat Dorsey: WellPoint (WLP: $42.13)
• Eric Bolling: Google (GOOG: $307.65)

Cavuto

• Patricia Powell: 3M Co. (MMM: $57.54)
• Charles Payne: Apple (AAPL: $85.35)
• Adam Lashinsky: Walgreen (WAG: $24.67)
• Matt McCall: iShares High Yield Corporate Bonds (HYG: $76.01)

Forbes on Fox

• Evelyn Rusli: URS Corp (URS: $40.77)
• Jack Gage: Energizer (ENR:$54.14)
• John Rutledge: Apple (AAPL: $85.35)
• Victoria Barret: salesforce.com (CRM: $32.01)

Cashin' In

• Jonathan Hoenig: Tokyo Stock Exchange REIT Index (JRE: $21.70)
• Wayne Rogers: Abraxis Bioscience (ABII: $65.92)
• Jonas Max Ferris: WADDELL AND REED FINANCIAL (WDR: $15.46)

My prediction?  I think that the policy of the Fed and stimulus spending from the Obama administration will lead to a rebound in the economy later this year or in 2010.  But that will start to show up in stocks in 2009, as the market starts to discount the future.  I think it's possible that we retest the 2008 lows once again, but that a new bull market will begin.  The first year gains from the bull market will be substantial, so I'm predicting a 20% rise in the SP500 in 2009.

2009 Starts Off

• Whether you like it or not, it's 2009! Happy New Year!  I  hope this finds you happy and healthy.  Oh, and also reading this on your portable device from the treadmill at the gym.  You haven't broken that "get in shape" New Year's resolution yet, have you?
• Yes, that is "Latika" (actress Freida Pinto) from Slumdog Millionaire.  Quite a good movie.
• The stock market rolls on and trading should be fairly light for a day in-between a holiday and a weekend.  The market up sharply while the financial networks are ever bullish and talking about the "January Effect."  Sharpest opening day since 2003, they say. 
• In March 2003, the market ended up retesting the September 2002 lows, and then beginning the amazing bull market and economic run to 2007.   There was an amazing stretch of GDP quarters running over 3% during that stretch.