Holy bat-benchmarks, Super Pottsy is up, up and away

KERTHWAK! That's the sound of the market snapping up 1.2 per cent. Bam! Whack! Kapow! That's the symphony of sound effects accompanying our new shares race superheroes as they demolish the benchmark and post some dizzying gains at the end of week one.

By InvestSMART · 26 Aug 2012

By InvestSMART ·
26 Aug 2012

Comments

We should have known the moment a politician says "the mining boom is over" resources stocks would rally - and so it was.

Pottsy made the most of it, bouncing back from a dismal finish in the last comp to make almost 10 per cent in five days of trading.

His pick of Avanco, which is exploring for copper in Brazil, was up a stunning 44 per cent. Doreen "the Gaze" Daze wasn't far behind, racking up 8.5 per cent after Metgasco and Solimar Energy leapt by a third each.

A return of 6 per cent would normally have been enough to put analyst Qaiser Malik in front, but he has to content himself with third spot early in the race.

In the middle of the table we have the beginnings of a workplace grudge match, as Gaynor "the Flying Springbok" Reid and Peter "El Jefe" Hook of Accor Hotels battle it out for office supremacy, the esteem of their colleagues and first crack at the work stationery cupboard.

Gaynor claims an early lead, but with less than $700 separating them, it is game on.

The crown weighs heavy on the brow of current shares race champion Richard Pritchard, while Dartboard's aim was OK - but not enough in this hot market.

Propping up the table is reader Ron Morrison, who had no heroes and a few villains in his portfolio. But with three weeks to go, anything can happen and probably will!

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

How did the market and benchmark perform in week one of the shares race?

In week one the market outperformed the benchmark, with the benchmark snapping up about 1.2%. The shares race contestants posted some dizzying gains as resource and energy names led much of the move.

Why did resources stocks rally so strongly in this update?

According to the article, resource stocks rallied after a politician declared 'the mining boom is over' — a trigger that, ironically, helped resources bounce back as investors rushed into the sector.

How did Pottsy’s picks perform and which stock drove his gains?

Pottsy bounced back from a poor finish in the previous competition and made almost 10% in five days of trading. His top performer was Avanco, which was up a stunning 44%; the article notes Avanco is exploring for copper in Brazil.

Which individual stocks were the biggest movers mentioned in the article?

The biggest movers called out were Avanco (up about 44%), and both Metgasco and Solimar Energy (each leapt by roughly a third). These resource and energy names were key contributors to the strong short‑term returns.

How did analyst Qaiser Malik fare in the early standings of the shares race?

Qaiser Malik produced a return of about 6%, which the article says would normally put him in front — but in this hot market he was sitting in third spot early in the race.

What’s the story with Accor Hotels in the shares race and who are the people involved?

Accor Hotels features in a workplace rivalry between Gaynor 'the Flying Springbok' Reid and Peter 'El Jefe' Hook. The article frames it as a friendly grudge match for 'office supremacy' with less than $700 separating their positions in the standings.

Who was struggling in the standings and what does that tell everyday investors?

The article mentions that current champion Richard Pritchard felt the weight of the crown, Dartboard’s picks were okay but not enough for the hot market, and reader Ron Morrison was propping up the table with no heroes and a few villains. It highlights how quickly fortunes can change in a short competition window.

What’s the key takeaway for everyday investors from this shares race update?

The update shows short-term market moves can be sudden and driven by sector narratives — here, resources and energy led a strong rally. With three weeks still to go in the competition, the article reminds readers that 'anything can happen,' so short‑term volatility and rapid reversals are possible.