Oil pumpjacks operate in a farmer’s field near Calgary, Alta., in November.Todd Korol/Reuters
Well, hello! The new trading year is already shaping up to be interesting. It’s a reminder that in the investing world, you’ve always got to be ready for swings. On that note, are you making any changes to spruce up your Trade Off stock-picking contest portfolio in 2026? Be sure to let us know!
And don’t forget to sign up to receive the Trade Secrets newsletter in your inbox.
The Leaderboard
One of the most fun parts of Trade Off has been the opportunity to explore different portfolio positioning. Our experts – from Rob Carrick’s “Two-Minute Portfolio” to Norman Rothery’s “Dividend Monster” picks – have shown that there are tons of ways to understand investing baskets.
This Week in Markets
One of the biggest investment stories to start the year has been oil. After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s dramatic capture, some investors are worried the South American country could challenge Canada. For now, most experts say that threat is overblown. Canada’s oil sands produce roughly four times more heavy crude than Venezuela, whose industry is still reeling from mismanagement, poor infrastructure, fires, theft and sanctions. Rebuilding will take years and billions of dollars, giving Canadian producers time to stay competitive.
As oil executives navigate geopolitics, they’re also watching the auto industry. Roughly half of global oil demand comes from transportation. Electric vehicle sales are expected to slow in 2026, but Silicon Valley is shaping the sector’s future. Nvidia generated buzz last week at the Consumer Electronics Show, pushing autonomous cars with artificial intelligence that could transform mobility and curb gasoline demand over the next decade.
Stable production, low costs and strategic exports keep Canada’s oil industry strong today, but EV growth and self-driving technology show that energy demand is far from static.
Trade Secret Tips
Since we’re coming off a big year for stocks, you can learn here about what some pros see as the biggest risks in 2026.
Meanwhile, gold is coming off a banner year, too. Can those stocks continue to climb?
Want some value investing ideas? Here are a few areas to watch.
And if you’re trying to assess what your portfolio might look like by retirement, here is a helpful perspective on how different pension plans play a role in returns.
Happy trading!
Jon
Jon Erlichman is the founder of Ticker Take on YouTube and a contributor to BNN Bloomberg.