Chasing Value: 8 stocks for 2008 -- April Bunge's back

Filed under: Major movement, International markets, Google (GOOG), Apple Inc (AAPL), Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), China, Market matters, Reliance Steel and Aluminum (RS), Valero Energy (VLO), Huaneng Power Intl ADS (HNP), Economic data, Bargain stocks, Chasing Value, Commodities, Oil, Anglo Amer ADR (AAUK), S and P 500, DJIA, Stocks to Buy, Newcastle Investment (NCT), Raytheon Company (RTN), Best Stocks for 2008, Bunge Ltd. (BG), Loews Corporation (LTR), NASDAQ

This month saw great improvement after last month's disaster. Having to conclude my findings on a specific month end day, or any day, depending on the news, sometimes distorts results. For example news on March 31 sent the market down and on April first my picks shot up an unusual amount; hopefully the trend will continue.

My riskiest stock pick Newcastle Investment Corp (NYSE: NCT) was down the most in March but recovered about 35% of the loss in April leaving Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE: VLO) the dubious honor of being my worst performer, down over 30% in the first four months of the year.

April showed improvement as many companies reported positive earnings reports or beat expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained some ground in April as did the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, and the technology heavy NASDAQ Composite Index was up with stocks like Apple, Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) improving significantly on very strong reports. Google is up over 25%.

Most of my picks improved. Higher food prices no doubt helped Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) which recaptured losses moving up 23% from its recent bottom. My two winners Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN), the high tech defense contractor, and Reliance Steel & Aluminum (NYSE: RS) were joined by a third, Anglo American plc (ADR) (NASDAQ: AAUK) which had a 10% swing entering positive territory.

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