From the tidal wave of e-mails and comments I have received from numerous different sources I am under the impression that most investors view the recent rally in the world’s stock markets as a bear market rally. I suppose we would need to define a bear market rally as a rally that fails to make a new all-time high (for the S&P 500, above the 1576 reached in October 2007) and is also followed by a new low for this cycle (below 666 for the S&P 500 reached in early March 2009).

The year ahead is showing an alarming investment slowdown for the emerging-markets investor. Money Morning’s Martin Hutchinson presents which Emerging Markets ETFs the pros are buying. These picks have sound savings and are worth looking at.

Capital flows to emerging markets are likely to plunge this year. And countries with low domestic savings or wide external deficits will suffer badly. Martin Hutchinson picks the five best emerging market etfs to hold in 2009.

The brutal market sell-off in emerging markets has led many to doubt their importance in the global economy. But Horacio Marquez says the ‘right’ countries in Latin America will thrive in the New Year. Top of the class is Brazil, but Horacio also sees good opportunities in Chile and Mexico.

Riddle me this: When is it good news when an analyst slashes his price target for a stock by 55%? Answer: When that “reduced” target price still represents a 59% gain. That’s precisely the scenario facing Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR: RIO), the world’s biggest iron-ore producer.

Buy/Sell/Hold ETF Zooms 42%; Magna Reports 3Q Loss, Slashes Dividend; U.S. Factory Orders Down 2.5%; Walgreen Same-store Sales Rise 2%, Yahoo Shares Upgraded; Oil Rises 12% on Production Cuts; Archer Daniels Midland Doubles Profit; UBS Turns Profit; Verizon Cleared to Take Over Alltel.

On Monday we featured a bullish piece on Brazil by Money Map Report editor Horacio Marquez. Since then, the iShares MSCI Brazil Index ETF (NYSE:EWZ) he called a “screaming buy” has gained as much as 31%. Here, William Patalon III provides an update on some of the reasons to be investing in Brazil right now.

Almost everything has been taken down by this crisis. But Martin Hutchinson says some markets will “bounce big” after the storm passes. Countries that didn’t have a housing boom and follow sound economic policies. That’s why Canada, Brazil, South Korea and Germany are great places to invest right now.

Horacio Marquez says the credit crisis is giving investors another chance to profit from Brazil’s long-term success story. The country is rich in natural resources, has a solid banking system, and a strong economic outlook. He recommends buying the iShares MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE:EWZ) in increasing increments over the coming 8 weeks.

Brazilian stocks have been pummeled in October’s global market rout. But Martin Hutchinson says this has created a great opportunity for investors. South America’s largest economy still has a robust growth outlook and moderate inflation. These six “bargain basement” stocks are now well worth a look.