Let’s spend this week tweaking our portfolio by taking some profits on some of our option positions, opening new positions based on existing holdings, as well as tightening our stops to lock in profits.

POSCO (PKX)

The Korean steelmaker has been a terrific long-term performer in our Global Bull Market Alert. After hitting record highs last week, the stock is up more than 88% since our initial recommendation. With the Q4 rally just beginning, let’s open another option position here and buy the February $200 call options (PKXBJ.X). Also tighten your stop on the stock to $140

POTASH (POT)

With the stock up 53.34% since we first recommended it, Potash ended the week pretty much where it started. But our Canada-based play on the soft commodities boom still has plenty of juice left in it. Let’s tighten our stop to $83.00. If you want to play for some additional upside, buy the March $110 call options (PYPCB.X).

TELVENT GIT S.A. (TLVT)

Our Spanish technology play is the only stock yet to reclaim highs reached prior to the summer swoon. But it is climbing back steadily — although low volume in the stock means that the stock price can be quite volatile in this small-cap play. Let’s hold on for now to see how well it will regain its footing over the next few weeks.

CENTRAL EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION CORP. (CEDC)

With the stock up a solid 18.02% since Aug. 20, let’s tighten our stop to $42.50. Let’s also take our remaining 85.45% profits on our December $40 call options and roll them over to March $50 calls (CUVCJ.X).

BHP BILLITON (BHP)

BHP hit record highs on last Monday and consolidated the rest of the week. With the stock up 26.27% and the remaining options up 210.29%, let’s hold on to both for now. Also, tighten your stop to $60.00.

DRYSHIPS, INC. (DRYS)

Our Greek shipping play has been a big (albeit volatile) performer for us, and the stock is up a whopping 30.14% over the last four weeks. The stock jumped almost 6% on Friday alone. With the options up 141.94%, let’s take half of our profits here, and hold on to the rest for now. Let’s also tighten our stop on the stock to $62.50.

VIMPEL-COMMUNICATIONS (VIP)

After treading water over the past two weeks, Vimpelcom hit a record high at Friday’s close. The combination of its current technically oversold position, and a traditionally strong Q4 in Russia, should ensure that the stock and options will perform strongly over the next few weeks.

CAMECO CORP. (CCJ)

Although our uranium play has been flattish over the last two weeks, I expect the stock to move strongly as it issues its third quarter financial results before markets open on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

ISHARES MSCI HONG KONG INDEX (EWH)

Our bet on momentum in China-based Asian markets got off to a solid start last week, with the ETF up 1.92% and the options up 30%. With the Shanghai market re-opening this week, I expect Hong Kong will consolidate its gains over the next few days before it resumes its upward momentum.

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Nicholas Vardy

Nicholas Vardy has a unique background that has proven his knack for making money in different markets around the world. He was the Editor of The Global Guru, a free weekly e-newsletter, and also edited the trading services Momentum Trader Alert, which focused on making short-term profits in the hottest markets in the world, and The Alpha Algorithm, which was designed specifically to deliver big, fast triple-digit winners, month after month. He was also the editor of Smart Money Masters, a monthly service focused on longer term investments recommended by the brightest minds in the business. Mr. Vardy has been a regular commentator on CNN International and the Fox Business Network. He has also published articles in The New Republic, The World and I, and The Baker & McKenzie Legal Review. The Global Guru/Nicholas Vardy has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Fox Business News, CBS MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance, and MSN Money Central. Mr. Vardy graduated from Stanford with a B.A. — with honors and distinction — in both Economics and History, and he also earned an M.A in Modern European Intellectual History. After winning a Fulbright Scholarship, he earned a J.D. degree at Harvard Law School where he was an editor of the Harvard International Law Journal. When not uncovering investment opportunities for his subscribers and investors, Mr. Vardy is a keep-fit enthusiast and an avid student of classical music.  

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