Seven Investment Management Justin Urquhart Stewart likes:


Oil and gas companies, although he warns that the continuing weakness of the dollar "is still likely to hold back substantial gains".

Superscape (Mr Stewart's own personal choice which he describes as an outright punt). The stock, he says, could fly or fall. It specialises in providing '3D' games for mobile phones.
The Share Centre. Damion Larkin plumps for:


Anglo Irish Bank

Man Group (financial services)

Lastminute.com

Exel (logistics)

Goshawk (insurance underwriter)
Fyshe's Jeremy Batstone names several sectors he thinks will outperform in the coming year.


Tobacco groups

Oils
Redmayne Bentley's Michael Coleman likes:


Shell (relatively inexpensive)

GlaxoSmithKline (reliable earnings)
Killik & Co's Paul Kavanagh chooses:


Centrica (progress in cost savings)

Smith & Nephew (set for strong growth in hip replacements)

P&O (major ports interests in Asia)

Premier Oil (relatively inexpensive)

Vanco (growing corporate telecoms)

Superscape (3D mobile phone games)
Barclays Stockbrokers' Hilary Cook picks:


Prudential (interests in India)

Standard Chartered (Far East growth)

Lloyds TSB (relatively inexpensive and may be a takeover target)

Hilton (business in its hotels is forecast to improve over the coming year).
Mark Dampier of Hargreaves Lansdown has a broad stock selection:


Gallaher (strong cash generation)

BT (good dividend payer)

Lloyds TSB (good dividend payer. Rumours persist it might cut the dividend)

Knowledge Technology Solutions (pure punt)
HSBC. Robert Parkes' choice of oils and telecoms reflects similar preferences of a number of City fund managers.

Many believe both have underperformed during 2003 and are set for a rebound in the coming 12 months. Mr Parkes plumps for:


Vodafone (global player with expansion set to continue).

Shell (cheaper than BP and healthy future earnings).

cybit holdings(cyh) and atlantic global(atl).Both look set to roar in 2004.