With many of the biggest U.S. and European banks in trouble or under pressure, this Madrid-based giant offers financial strength and geographic diversity. Last year, as other big banks snapped in the financial whirlwind, this mostly retail and deposits-oriented bank posted a 9% net profit increase to nearly nine billion euros ($13.3 billion). In 2009, once again it will probably be one of the world's most profitable banks. The dividend yield on its Big Board-listed American depositary receipts is 4.2%.

Exposure, via ADR, to Western E.U.
Excelent dividend,
A financial for my portfolio diversification. 185 shrs @ 15.65 each!

"That one is good, they're just not as good as something like Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBV). I like that one better." "Lightning Round," Aug. 25

To compensate its private-banking customers for losses from Bernie Madoff, Banco Santander is offering them another terrible investment. In exchange for a release of legal claims and a commitment to leave their money with the bank, Santander is giving customers an illiquid preferred stock worth a small fraction of their original investment, with no compensation for money- management fees or the supposed investment gains that Santander had reported year after year.

0.233

Wachovia (WB), Washington Mutual (WM), now Sovereign (SOV) with Santander (STD), which I had no idea was healthy enough to buy anything but can put the bad loans to TARP like all of the others.

Foreign banking, another great dividend

High Dividend Yield and room for large capital gains

Ken Fisher

world stock

growth & steay return