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Markets. The important market now for everybody to look at is in the US and he is seeing increased signs of economic growth. There were signs of very good growth of existing homes today and there were very low inventories of existing homes which will drive new home construction. Auto sales are almost double what they were in 2009. Unemployment claims today were close to a post recession low.

Big question for all oil sands companies has to do with getting their product to market. If the US president approves that Keystone pipeline, that will be very positive for these companies. Or if the outlet to the West Coast is approved. Absent that, we are going to see the discount on oil sands crude simply because of the transportation bottleneck.

US government is going to exit their position that they got during the TARP program in 2008. Doesn’t feel this company is the most inventive or innovative of the major carmakers. Feels Ford (F-N) is doing a better job right now. Toyota (TM-N) has regained a lot of the lustre that it lost during the accelerator recall.

Feels that one of the ways to play the automobile sector is to pick the car parts maker that sells to everybody.

Stock has come off quite a bit from its high and thinks it is really a bargain at this price. There are a lot of stores, but there is room to expand the menu, which is what they are working on. Also, the US is fertile ground. Have done better in the US than most Canadian retailers. Same-store sales have been okay, but not stellar, which pressured the stock. It is now a yield stock and a dividend grower.

Has had a terrific run. If he is correct about the US economy growing, that means more transactions and this company will make more money. The new technology, where you can use your smart phone, presents both challenges and risks for credit card companies. Feels the banks are going to find ways to bring that business in-house and separate from Visa and MasterCard (MC-N) and try to capture those transactions for themselves.

Just made a huge acquisition in energy. People were upset because they viewed this company as a metals play, not an energy play. Terrific world scale company. Not the one he would buy right now. Situation is a little clouded with the acquisition.

Big Pharma is somewhat of a crap shoot, because you never know what the FDA is going to do. Also you never know if a drug will have a problem with injury or death. Also, there is patent litigation. However, big Pharma has been marked down tremendously from 10-15 years ago. They are going to grow because the US healthcare system is an enormous consumer of medications. He prefers companies that not only have drugs, but over-the-counter medications and medical devices.

Social media is all about buzz and there is less and less buzz about this company. Big question has always been, how will they make money running the company as well as on mobile devices.

An old-fashioned business in a fast changing world. Globally there are 5 cell phones for every land line. This is not a growth business, it is a yield play only. If you want a low growth, sort of steady Eddie dividend payer with a slowly declining revenue, this is fine.

(A Top Pick Dec 19/11. Up 14.5%.) Have this very protected market in Québec that they dominate. Least international of all the Canadian banks. Still likes.

(A Top Pick Dec 19/11. Up 18.5%.) Stock would be doing a lot better if people were sure it could get its product to market. Still likes and is still buying.

(A Top Pick Dec 19/11. Up 6.44%.) Sold his holdings when he got concerned about coal.

Commodities are not in favour right now. There is a weakness across the spectrum. A rebounding economy is good for the metal stocks but there is no shortage of aluminum right now. An energy heavy commodity that requires a lot of energy. If you own and want to get out, tomorrow is the day you have to sell.

A real Canadian success story. The time to buy it was probably under $40-$45 a share. Company has to grow into its share price at this time because its growth rate is not going to be what it was in the past.