FTSE 100 and European indices record best annual rise since 2009

wotsthat

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/31/ftse-100-records-best-annual-rise-since-2009

Traders are toasting the strongest year for the FTSE 100 since 2009 following a bumper crop of new entrants to the stock market.

Amid renewed confidence in the economy, markets across Europe clocked up their strongest gains in several years while Wall Street was on track for its best performance since 1997.

I managed 19% in my Sipp including dividends and net of fees (compared to 2012's 22%). Would've been higher if it hadn't have been for pesky RSA and their Irish problems.

I'd like to personally thank Ben Bernanke for his ill-thought out comments on tapering earlier in the year and to Graham for posting about how we may be addicted to stimulus and the sky might fall in as a result - these events led me to invest a whole years contributions in a single pop.

Saving when it was a struggle is turning out to be worth it. It's ensured that the gains haven't been large percentages of F all.

Hope everyone else here has done even better - Happy New Year!

AndyGuil

We've just come out of a recession it is inevitable.

Generali

wotsthat wrote: »

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/31/ftse-100-records-best-annual-rise-since-2009



I managed 19% in my Sipp including dividends and net of fees (compared to 2012's 22%). Would've been higher if it hadn't have been for pesky RSA and their Irish problems.

I'd like to personally thank Ben Bernanke for his ill-thought out comments on tapering earlier in the year and to Graham for posting about how we may be addicted to stimulus and the sky might fall in as a result - these events led me to invest a whole years contributions in a single pop.

Saving when it was a struggle is turning out to be worth it. It's ensured that the gains haven't been large percentages of F all.

Hope everyone else here has done even better - Happy New Year!

My bog standard 'balanced fund' paid for by my employer is up a fair bit over 20% in AUD terms.

In fairness, that is partly because I have a skew towards international shares and AUD weakness has boosted my gains. AUD strength reduced my gains/increased losses in prior years so I'm really just getting back what's already been taken away.

I've even done ok in the Fixed Income part of my Super fund thanks to the excellence of our Fixed Income people.

FWIW, I think US oil and gas infrastructure may well be the place to be for the next year or 2. The predictions I've seen are that they'll be looking for about $30,000,000,000 of new money each year for the next 10 years. To get that sort of money in through the door they'll need to pay outsized returns.

Generali

AndyGuil wrote: »

We've just come out of a recession it is inevitable.

Stock market indices aren't a vote on future GDP.

AndyGuil

Generali wrote: »

Stock market indices aren't a vote on future GDP.

No but the were hurt by the recession. They look forward.

Generali

AndyGuil wrote: »

No but the were hurt by the recession. They look forward.

Yes they do but that needs to be weighed against the fact that increased interest rates as a result of the economy getting better will make shares less attractive.

As interest rates have been extremely low, the response to increased rates is likely to be extreme.

AndyGuil

Generali wrote: »

Yes they do but that needs to be weighed against the fact that increased interest rates as a result of the economy getting better will make shares less attractive.

As interest rates have been extremely low, the response to increased rates is likely to be extreme.

True. The expectation is for a small rise perhaps not this year but it could be next year. The market will see this and price it in so when it happens the effect will be minor in the short term. This is a good point and I think this year the market will struggle to beat last years gains.

Tiglath

It looks like my portfolio (pensions pots + S&S ISA) managed around 16%.

Generali

AndyGuil wrote: »

True. The expectation is for a small rise perhaps not this year but it could be next year. The market will see this and price it in so when it happens the effect will be minor in the short term. This is a good point and I think this year the market will struggle to beat last years gains.

I agree.

Actually I think next year could be a good year for 'stock pickers' which is rare.

dryhat

My best investment of the year went up 1800%

chucknorris

I wish I had put more into shares earlier but at least I got more in recently when the ftse was about about 3% lower. Looking forward I need to invest more in shares, currently my (excl. my wife's) portfolio is:


59% property (excl. 50% home)
14% cash
14% shares
13% pension