Lithium has a profitable future, says Laura Cadden. Demand for rechargable Lithium-ion batteries will soar as hybrid cars become more popular . Laura picks two companies that could return triple-digit gains in just a few years.

Biotech companies are a great investment right now, says Laura Cadden. And support from the Obama administration will ensure this trend continues. Laura picks four small cap biotech firms set to soar.

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISIS) is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses entirely on RNA-based technologies and primarily, on antisense therapies.

“Keynesian” economics has been given a bad name by unprecendeted government bailouts this year. But John Maynard Keynes was also a great investor says Dr. Mark Skousen. His strategy was to buy preferred stocks of quality, high-dividend companies when everyone else was selling. Mark says today’s investors can follow this advice for big long-term gains with the John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (NYSE:HPI).

Steve McDonald looks ahead to the investment climate in the new year. He sees a bounce in the Dow reaching as high as 11,000. But an economic recovery will depend on whether the Obama administration can restore confidence in the public. For 2009’s top money-makers, Steve picks six high-dividend stocks and two corporate bond plays.

Seemingly under the radar, China’s Shanghai Composite Index has risen 17.7% since Nov. 1. Specifically – and not coincidentally – the index began its rise Nov. 10, the day after Beijing announced an ambitious economic stimulus plan that will pour $585 billion into housing, water-and-energy projects, airports, disaster relief and railroad construction over the next two years.

There are some spooky similarities between today and December 1974, says Rick Pendergraft. At that time, oversold stocks began a major six-month rally. That’s why, contrary to popular belief, stocks might just be the best place to be for the first half of 2009. But if history does repeat itself, Rick says investors should expect more trouble in stocks in the second half of the year.

As the 2009 approaches, we look back to some of the free recommendations we’ve made to TFN eNews readers over the past year.

Our closed recommendations (i.e., stock recommendations with specific buy and sell recommendations), we recorded average gains of 24.1%, with an average holding period of 27 days.

Some gains in particular were truly stellar…

· 50.1% on Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:SWHC)
· 87.1% on National City (NYSE:NCC) Jan 2.5 calls
· 79.6% on Boeing (NYSE:BA) Feb 55 puts
· 190% on Boeing Aug 90 calls
· 55.5% on Rex Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:REXX)

But now it’s time to throw in the towel on some duds…

The shipping sector sank with the global recession. If you are still holding any, it’s time to unload shares of:

· China…

Laura Cadden says Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VNDA) is on the verge of a big breakthrough with a drug to treat sleep disorders. She says investors that buy the stock at or below 75 cents will be in line for double-digit gains.