Switzerland's Best-kept Secret Dear International Living Reader, Looking to purchase shares in companies for less--sometimes a lot less--than the value of their assets? Look no further than the world's premier asset haven--Switzerland. I'm not talking about well-known Swiss blue chips like Nestlé or Credit Suisse. For investors with access to the right information, the scope of Swiss stocks goes well beyond the 300 companies listed on the Zurich Stock Exchange. Shares in the secondary Swiss market used to change hands through specialized banks and specialized securities dealers only. Until last year, closing a deal often involved mailing the actual share certificates to the buyer and paying the seller by bank transfer. But now this archaic system has been replaced by an electronic communication network (ECN) similar to a stock exchange. Anyone with Internet access can tap into this hidden market. So far, only the Swiss have shown interest in this sector, and most of the time they stick to local companies where they know the management. But with the introduction of fully electronic trading, the time is ripe for some of these outstanding value plays to come to the attention of the wider investment community. Be warned: the potential of this sector won't stay secret for much longer. Buy these shares now while it's still only insiders paying attention. At the moment, banks outside Switzerland aren't aware this market exists. Theoretically, trading these shares via Reuters should be possible with just about any broker. But judging from my experiences, most U.S. and European brokers deem the extra hassle not worth their trouble. The easiest and most efficient way for trading is likely to be an account at a Swiss bank. Sven Lorenz
For International Living P.S. In my investment service, Global Profit Hunter, I recently featured the shares of two Swiss utilities companies. Compared to their American counterparts, these shares are vastly undervalued. What's more, they are denominated in Swiss Francs, arguably the world's safest currency, and in both cases shareholders could soon receive a bid offer. If you want to find out more, click here. | 
