Now that more than half the year is behind us, I thought it would be interesting to look at my top 5 performers through July 31, 2008. As dismal as the stock market has been this year, there are still some bright spots. One bright spot is that my top five performers have all achieved double-digit positive total returns since I owned them and positive returns in 2008. Here they are with comments:

Tom Dyson says the best way to protect your portfolio from the fallout of a failing Fannie and Freddie is to invest in high-dividend stocks…

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) is the cheapest place to eat in the US right now.And 12% Letter editor Tom Dyson says it’s going to get more and more business as the recession puts expensive restaurants out of reach. But are prices going to stay low as McDonalds’ transport and food production costs rise? Only time will tell.

With the three percent downturn in the markets on Thursday 06/26, we are looking for an upturn in the stock market next week. This articles lists some trading ideas that could prove very profitable if the stock market does indeed start trading to the upside.

Despite the conventional wisdom of "buy what you know", Consumer Services contains some businesses like retail and restaurants that are very difficult to build a lasting moat in. However, there are opportunities here. This article outlines the criteria for attractive Consumer Services picks from the Magic Formula.

ChangeWave’s latest consumer survey shows a sudden huge pullback in electronics purchasing by U.S. consumers – the largest one since they began measuring spending trends back in 2002.

Only 19% of survey respondents say they'll spend more on electronics over the next 90 days compared to 33% who will spend less – an unprecedented sign of weakness in this space.