Brian Acker, president, CEO and chief investment strategist at Acker Finley

Focus: North American large caps
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MARKET OUTLOOK
I believe we are in the middle stages of a secular bull market in the U.S. dollar (now four years old since I first started mentioning this on BNN). This will ignite rates of return of all U.S. assets including equities, real estate, etc. So far, since the U.S. presidential election the DXY Index has risen almost five per cent. This is a big move and a sign the markets are anticipating greater fiscal spending instead of relying on monetary policy going forward. Financials, industrials and healthcare, specifically drug stocks, look good in terms of valuations and potential returns in the next one to two years.

TOP PICKS

CITIGROUP (C.N) - Last purchased at $49.69 on October 28, 2016. Upside to model price of nine per cent as of January 4, 2017.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP (AIG.N) - Last purchased at $49.16 on January 30, 2015. Upside to model price of 17 per cent as of January 4, 2017.

EXXON MOBIL CORP (XOM.N) - Last purchased at $90.08 on February 11, 2015. Upside to model price of negative five per cent as of January 4, 2017.
 

PAST PICKS: FEBRUARY 4 2016

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE.N)

• Then: $29.18
• Now: $31.54
• Return: +8.08%
• TR: +11.43%

APPLE (AAPL.O)

• Then: $96.60
• Now: $116.12
• Return: +20.20%
• TR: +22.22%

GILEAD SCIENCES (GILD.O)

• Then: $86.68
• Now: $75.98
• Return: -12.34%
• TR: -10.33%

TOTAL RETURN AVERAGE: +7.77%