Sam Collins
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Vodafone Group Plc (VOD), which provides mobile communications services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the United States, is another household name that should attract investor attention.

The well-defined bull channel in which it is now trading has broken out from a double-top on huge volume.

The long-term target for VOD is $30.

Rambus Inc. (RMBS) designs, develops, and licenses chip interface technologies and architectures that are used in digital electronics products.

The microchip sector has been lagging lately but appears to be gaining investor attention.

RMBS is selling very close to a major support line and recently triggered a buy from our in-house indicator, the Collins-Bollinger Reversal (CBR). Note the oversold stochastic.

The PowerShares DWA Emerging Markets Technical Leaders Portfolio (PIE) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Dorsey Wright Emerging Markets Technical Leaders Index.

This ETF is for those investors who seek a broad representation in the foreign emerging markets that give some protection against a falling U.S. dollar.

After seven months of one of the strongest rallies in history, the stock market is showing signs of faltering. From here on out through the rest of 2009, I believe the advance will shift gears, and instead of recording new highs every month, the trend will tend to flatten.

And as we head into the heart of the fourth quarter, I wouldn't bet on the market making many more new highs this year.

The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) attempts to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Amex Gold Miners Index.

GDX is in a bull market with both the long-term support line and the 200-day moving average at near $40. Although this is a volatile performer, bouncing 10 points between the high and low of its bull channel, the volatility gives us a second chance to buy this stock at a good price.

Coca-Cola Company (KO) is in a very orderly advance, and its recent pullback gives a good opportunity to position yourself in this blue chip stock.

Note the turning fast-line of the stochastic, which should give a buy signal shortly.

The Canadian Oil Sands Trust (COSWF) is an open-ended investment trust that generates income from its 36.74% interest in the Syncrude Canada Ltd. joint venture, which is the world's largest producer of crude oil from oil sands and the largest single-source producer in Canada.

After falling from more than $50 in July 2008 to less than $15 in January 2009, this trust formed a base and then rallied from February to May before settling down for its next consolidation, a cup-and-handle formation.

Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) has more than 3,500 stores that sell its inventory of toys, durable housewares, candy, seasonal goods, and so on for a $1. Its other stores, operating as Deal$, sell most of its inventory at $5 or less.

This deep-discount retailer is generally considered to be the leader of its class and is rated a "buy" (four stars) by S&P with a target of $59.

The stock executed a major long-term bullish breakout at around $45. Technically this breakout is major and targets the stock at over $65.

The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: XHB) bottomed in March and made a direct run to the 200-day moving average by the end of April.

In mid-July, it executed a gold cross, which indicated that its long-term trend was about to change. By early August, it had broken the high of July, establishing an uptrend.

Since then it has been trading within a bull channel, but recently broke the 50-day moving average (blue line) suggesting that XHB will head for the support line and 200-day moving average at around $12.50.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) traded above $50 a share in December 2006, but the international financial crisis drove the sector to extreme lows, and BAC fell to below $3 in March.

With the crisis abated and recent management changes to take effect at the end of this year, BAC has picked up positive research opinions from many analysts.

Technically the stock has made a solid advance along its bullish support line and the 50-day moving average.

Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT) is one of the largest distributors of semiconductors and computer-related products in the world.

After falling from more than $40 in 2007, its common stock bottomed in October 2008, well before the bear market low in March. Since then, it has been trading in a bull channel with a top around $29 and low at $23.

The long-term trend of this favored blue chip is up, but recent profit-taking has driven it below $25 and could even result in a test of the support line at $23. S&P rates this stock as a strong buy (five stars) with a price objective of $33. From a technical standpoint, the chart's objective is also $33.

AT&T (NYSE: T) fell from a high of almost $43 to less than $22 in a little over a year. T formed a long-term bottom, finally breaking out at $27 after executing a gold cross (confirmation of a long-term bull market).

But profit-taking in the past two weeks has caused a retrenchment back to support at $26.50.

The stock could pull back more, but its high quality and visibility make this the bluest of blue chip stocks, with a dividend yield of more than 6% and a strong buy recommendation by S&P (five stars).

The U.S. dollar continues to show weakness, and oil will likely continue to be a good hedge against its further deterioration.

Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), which is a large oil and natural gas exploration and production company, should continue to benefit from the dollar's fall.

APA fell from almost $150 in May 2008, to $51 in March. Energy prices improved, and so did this stock as it built a base on a double cup-and-handle formation.

When selecting which stocks to buy, ratings from agencies like Standard & Poor's can be useful in creating a balanced portfolio.

But did you know technical analysis is the most accurate way to predict where a stock -- or the market for that matter -- is going?

Technical analysis is more of an art than a science, but when used correctly it can boost your profits to new heights. I took a look at stocks that S&P has a four- or five-star rating on and analyzed their charts to come up with six great technical trades for you.

Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) is a diversified technology and manufacturing company. The stock tripled in price from late 2002 to early 2007.

But in June 2008, the stock broke support and plunged. By November, it was trading for less.