Chinese equities, particularly those operating in the tech sector, have lagged the performance of the U.S. equity markets, based on slowing growth concerns due to both domestic demand, but perhaps even more so tied to economic difficulties in Europe, China's largest export market. The group, as represented by the Claymore China Technology ETF (CQQQ), has fallen off about 40% from the highs set last April, and is currently flirting with multi-year lows. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index is down over 35% from the highs set in mid-2009, and is back to within striking range of the lows in 2008/09. This, while the U.S. equity markets, have relatively blossomed, with the S&P 500 having doubled from those lows, and near multi-year highs.

However, long-term, the Chinese economy is expected to keep up its growth trajectory, at rates far in excess of those in the West, and with prices near lows, now

The average automobile industry stock, as represented by the Global X Auto ETF (VROM), is about flat YTD and down about 20% from the year highs set earlier in March. However, within the group, there is a dichotomy, as most auto supplier stocks are still performing quite well, whereas most auto manufacturers, particularly General Motors (GM), are trading back near their lows. The auto industry in the U.S., and indeed globally, is expected to come out strong as we grow out of the recession; however, Europe may continue to be a drag to their bottom line, particularly for auto manufacturing companies.

The industry is complex to analyze, and often a battleground, with its domination by less than a dozen manufacturers and global suppliers, with government intervention and sponsorship, environmental regulation and the impact of commodity energy prices. Add to that, the movement of production over time from Europe and North

The telecommunications equipment group, as represented by the iShares S&P North American Tech - Multimedia Network ETF (IGN) has underperformed the general market, off by almost 40% from the highs in Q1 of last year, and down 10% YTD to multi-year lows, compared to the almost 10% rise YTD in the S&P 500. While global macro-economic concerns persist, particularly in Europe, communications equipment infrastructure is widely expected to rebound sometime next year. In that scenario, many leading telecom equipment stocks should rally sharply off of their lows.

In this article, we analyze the investments of 25 of the world's largest or mega fund managers in the telecommunications equipment group. These mega fund managers together account for almost 40% of the assets invested in the U.S. equity markets and manage between $100 billion and over a trillion dollars each. Also, together, they are bullish on the group, adding a net $2.99

The biotech group, as represented by the SPDR S&P Biotech (XBI), has had a stellar year so far. It's up about 40% YTD, with many small-cap biotech companies up multifold during the year. The index is up about 5% so far this month, and although it was about flat last week, many biotech companies made strong, mostly upside, moves during the week. We scanned these big biotech movers, and the underlying stories driving them, aiming to separate out the ones where the moves are likely sustainable.

Astex Pharmaceuticals (ASTX): Astex is engaged in the development of therapeutics targeting life threatening diseases, with a particular focus on oncology and hematology. It has a broad pipeline of drugs in early- and mid-stage development. It is developing some of these drugs independently, and some in collaboration with leading pharmaceuticals companies, including Novartis (NVS), AstraZeneca (AZN), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and others. Besides, it also

The large bulk of e-commerce is business-to-business (B2B), with the more commonly recognized business-to-consumer (B2C) segment accounting for just about a tenth of the overall total. While only a small share of retail and service activity occurs online, with online retail sales accounting for 4.9% of total retail sales in Q1, their share of the overall pie keeps rising every year. This trend is expected to accelerate worldwide with the growing popularity of smartphones and apps that make it easy to comparison shop and get "social" opinions and reviews.

For those wishing to take advantage of this trend, we present here our analysis of the investments of 25 of the world's largest or mega fund managers in the e-commerce group (our prior-quarter analysis can be found here). These mega fund managers together account for almost 40% of the assets invested in the U.S. equity markets and manage between $100

The basic materials sector, including many companies operating in the chemicals and agricultural chemicals group, has been in consolidation mode since Q2 of last year, pulled back by softening demand in the U.S., the economic crisis in Europe, and a temporary slowdown in the vibrant economies of Asia. The industry is truly global with its manufacturing output used in a wide range of end markets including agriculture, consumer electronics, construction and manufacturing. While much of the manufacturing capacity is located in the U.S. and Western Europe, the key to revival lies in the resumption of more rapid growth in emerging markets, including most significantly China and India.

In this article, we analyze the investments of 25 of the world's largest or mega fund managers in the chemicals and agricultural chemicals group. These mega fund managers together account for almost 40% of the assets invested in the U.S. equity markets and

The average insurance company, as represented by the SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE), is up about 9% YTD and is within striking range of multi-year highs, as the immense write-downs taken during the 2008-09 recession become a fading memory. It is expected that growth will remain sluggish near-term due to the weak economy, a high unemployment rate, and fiscal challenges. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the insurance sector companies that are being accumulated and those being distributed by the world's largest fund managers.

The semiconductor stocks, as represented by the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) have underperformed the market, down by about 9% YTD compared to the 8% rise for the general market. The underperformance comes on the back of a miserable 2011, when the average stock in the group corrected by about 20%, compared to the flattish performance for the general market. The weak global economies and sagging consumer confidence that have plagued the sector continue to be issues, and the sector may not be out of the doldrums this year, perhaps preparing for a resurgence in 2013. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the semiconductor manufacturing companies that are being accumulated and those being distributed by the world's largest fund managers.

These mega fund managers, such as Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group, and 22 others, manage between

Metals Miners as represented by the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME) are down 20% YTD, after a dismal 2011 in which the average stock in the group retreated about 29%, mostly due to difficult macro-economic conditions globally. The group generally includes miners of iron, aluminum, copper and other ores, as well as gold and silver mining companies and coal mining companies. Our prior articles focused on the investments of mega fund managers in small and mid-cap gold miners, large-cap gold miners, and coal miners. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the base metals mining companies, such as those mining for iron, copper, zinc, lead and nickel, that are being accumulated and those being distributed by the world's largest fund managers.

The healthcare sector, as represented by the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) has outperformed the general market this year, up over 10% YTD compared to the 8% rise for the general market. Within the group, the S&P Health Care Equipment SPDR (XHE), probably more representative of medical technology stocks (ex-biotech), is up an even more impressive 15% YTD, with many leading stocks in the group up even more. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the medical technology stocks (ex-biotech) that are being accumulated and those being distributed by the world's largest fund managers.

These mega fund managers, such as Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group, and 22 others, manage between $100 billion and over $1 trillion each, and together control about 40% of the assets invested in the U.S. equity markets. Together, these mega fund managers

Oslo-based Oslo Asset Management is a part of Norwegian investment management company Aker ASA that has over $3.5 billion in total assets, including $369 million in 13-F assets (in U.S.-exchange traded equity securities). Overall, the fund has returned 72.3% since start-up in 2005 to year-end in 2010, at a respectable long-term compounded annual return rate of 10.4% compared to returns on the S&P in the range of 2.5% over the same period. The fund holds a very concentrated portfolio deployed in only twelve companies at the time of its Q2 2012 filing. Also, within the oil & gas group, about 28% of its assets are deployed in oil & gas operations companies, another 29% is deployed in integrated oil & gas companies, and the remaining 43% is deployed in the oil well services & equipment group.

We analyzed Oslo Asset Management's Q2 2012 13-F filing to determine its highest

Louis Navellier is Chairman and Founder of Reno, NV-based Navellier & Associates, with $3.2 billion in 13-F assets per its latest filing for Q2 of 2012. A regular on the media circuit, with frequent appearances on Bloomberg, Fox News and CNBC, Mr. Navellier also publishes multiple newsletters, including MPT Review and The Blue Chip Growth Letter, and is the author of the book, "The Little Book That Makes You Rich" that he co-authored with media mogul and former Presidential candidate Steve Forbes. The firm employs a three-step, highly disciplined, bottom-up stock selection process, based on quantitative and fundamental analysis. The portfolio is moderately diversified into over 330 positions, with over two-thirds in large-cap equities, and most of the remaining third in mid-caps.

Many leading funds, including Wellington, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and healthcare-focused Healthcor Group, filed forms 13-D and 13-G with the SEC over the last month, indicating that they had amended their ownership in U.S. exchange traded consumer and healthcare sector companies. The following summarizes five noteworthy buys and two noteworthy sells in the tech sector over the past month (in addition to prior articles summarizing 13D/G activity in the biotech group and the tech sector). Also, for more info on Forms 13-D and 13-G, and how to interpret them, please refer to our instablog discussion on institutional trades:

Many leading funds, including Citadel Advisors, Fidelity, BlackRock and D.E. Shaw, filed forms 13-D and 13-G with the SEC over the last month, indicating that they had amended their ownership in U.S. exchange traded basic materials and energy companies. The following summarizes two noteworthy buys and four noteworthy sells in the basic materials & energy sectors (in addition to prior articles summarizing 13D/G activity in the biotech group and the tech sector). Also, for more info on Forms 13-D and 13-G, and how to interpret them, please refer to our instablog discussion on institutional trades:

Many leading funds, including Wellington, Janus, BlackRock and T Rowe Price, filed forms 13-D and 13-G with the SEC over the last month, indicating that they had amended their ownership in U.S. exchange traded tech sector companies. The following summarizes four noteworthy buys and two noteworthy sells in the tech sector over the past month. Also, for more info on Forms 13-D and 13-G, and how to interpret them, please refer to our instablog discussion on institutional trades:

Zynga Inc (ZNGA): ZNGA develops, markets and operates online social games, making them available worldwide on various platforms, including Facebook , MySpace and Yahoo (YHOO), as well as the iPad, iPhone and Android devices. Last Tuesday, Denver, CO-based mutual fund powerhouse Janus Capital Management, with over $96 billion in 13-F assets, filed SEC Form SC 13G indicating that it holds 23.66 million shares, an

The S&P Retail Index ($RLX) has staged a strong recovery, rising to almost three-fold from the bottom of the 2008/09 recession, and is up about 15% YTD after just 3% appreciation in 2011. While the global economy continues to be in the doldrums, and the domestic unemployment numbers are still weak, housing is beginning to show less weakness and consumer confidence is slowly rising. Meanwhile, many retailers have staged a strong recovery in earnings growth since the recession, and others are showing improving same-store sales growth.

While it appears that 2012 may not be the year the U.S. economy picks up strongly, the stage may indeed be set for recovery next year, and retail stocks should do well in that scenario. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the large-cap retail sector company stocks that are being accumulated and those

The biotech group is among the largest in the market in terms of the number of companies, which number well over 300. Within the group, large-caps generally have well established commercialized product portfolios that generate revenues, and in most cases generate profitability, and are considered by many to be lower risk than their mid-cap and small-cap peers. Both due to the size of the sector, investor interest and the differing characteristics of the constituent companies, we have broken the sector by capitalization, and in this article we discuss the investing activities of the world's largest funds in large-cap biotech stocks (other articles discussing the investing activities of mega funds in micro-cap biotech, small-cap biotech and mid-cap biotech stocks were covered in prior articles).

These mega fund managers, such as Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group, and 22 others, manage between $100 billion and over $1

The average oil and gas exploration and production company, as represented by the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index (XOP) is down 6% YTD, after a nearly 30% surge in 2010 and 2011. Although oil prices are still at relatively high levels in the $85-$90 per barrel range, the threat of the EU crisis worsening and spilling over into China and the rest of the world are helping keep a lid on prices. However, we believe that the long-term outlook is promising in the face of a growing global economy, led by the BRIC countries, constrained supply, and the threat of an Iran-led crisis in the oil-rich Middle East. In this article, via an analysis based on the latest available Q1 institutional 13-F filings, we identify the large-cap oil & gas exploration & production company stocks that are being accumulated and those being distributed by

Many leading funds, including Fidelity, T Rowe Price, PRIMECAP, and healthcare-focused Orbimed Advisors, filed forms 13-D and 13-G with the SEC over the last month, indicating that they had amended their ownership in U.S. exchange traded biotech companies. The following summarizes one noteworthy buy and five noteworthy sells in the biotech group. Also, for more info on Forms 13-D and 13-G, and how to interpret them, please refer to our instablog discussion on institutional trades:

Anthera Pharmaceuticals (ANTH): ANTH is a development-stage biotech company focused on the development of therapeutics for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Last week, on July 9th, mutual fund powerhouse Fidelity Investments, with $555 billion in 13-F assets, filed SEC Form SC 13G/A indicating that it holds 1.74 million or 4.2% of outstanding shares, a decrease from the 6.11 million shares