WELL, the global crisis so fervently wished for by the racers chasing top spot has failed to materialise and Pottsy holds his nerve to take out the final contest of the year.
Our resident guru was treated generously by that jovial, well-fed yuletide figure, resplendent in flowing white beard, mischievous sparkle in his merry eye. No, not Gandalf! Of course, we are speaking of Sharesy Claus.
Sharesy Claus doesn't care whether you've been naughty or nice - he's far less judgmental than that North Pole busybody and his morality police elves - and he's happy to take as well as give. And take he did.
Aside from Pottsy, all our racers lost money as the market slipped 2.8 per cent to finish 3.3 per cent down over the four weeks. Astro nut Doreen Daze finished strongly, which means heartbreak once again for the AFR's Philip Baker, who takes home a bronze medal to add to his collection. Engineer Boz McDonald holds on to a spot in the top half of the ladder, despite a couple of his stocks losing about a third in value. Centro Properties was his best investment. Hmmm, there's something awry with that statement.
Moving down the list, chartist Richard Pritchard swaps positions with Dartboard, giving him bragging rights in their eternal struggle of one-upmanship. At the foot of the table, investor John Schneider had a shocking last week (down 8 per cent) after five of his stocks dropped by about a fifth. That's got to be some kind of record. The best performer of the week was real estate agent Graeme Cullen, who is really hitting his straps, if a tad late.
We're back in 2012 with more shares race action adventure. Thanks for reading and happy holidays.
1st David Potts AFR Investor
Anglo Aust $12,222
Carpentaria Exp $10,857
Cooper Energy $9136
Crossland Uranium $8941
Flinders Mines $18,065
Gold Anomaly $12,381
Legend Min $8125
Peninsula Energy $6522
Poseidon Nick $9048
Tap Oil $8936
$104,232
2nd Doreen Daze Astrologer
AntisenseTherapeutic $13,810
AustarUnited $10,391
Crown $9878
IndiaEquitiesFund $7949
MagellanFlagship $9704
MSFSugar $9911
Reckon $9038
RichmondMin $7903
TelstraCorp $10,219
VirginBlueHldgs $10,000
$98,804
3rd Philip Baker AFR Associate Editor
ANZ Banking Grp $10,097
Auspaccoal $10,000
Energy Res $7812
Fletcher Bld $9850
Freedom Food $10,353
Invocare $10,750
Myer Hldgs $9027
REA Grp $9723
Seek $10,180
Virgin Blue Hldgs $10,000
$97,792
4th Boz McDonald Engineer
BHP Billiton $9465
Centro Prop stp $13,972
Cochlear $10,117
Jacka Res $9667
Leighton Hldgs $9586
Metminco $7647
Origin Energy $9573
QBE Insurance Grp $9431
Telstra Corp $10,219
Vector Res $6737
$96,415
5th Richard Pritchard Chartist
Bionomics $12,857
Cape Lambert Res $8738
Consegna Grp $9375
Fortescue Metals Grp $9226
JB Hi-Fi $9428
Origin Energy $9573
PanAust $8980
Promesa $7157
Seek $10,180
StratumMetals $9524
$95,037
6th Dartboard
Azumah Res $9213
Cooper Energy $9136
Endocoal $12,162
Linc Energy $6361
Matrix C & E $10,157
Mirabela Nickel $8127
News Corp pref $10,422
Universal Coal cdi $8889
Voyager Res $8718
Western Desert Res $11,071
$94,257
7th John Schneider Investor
Alkane Res $8197
Bannerman Res $8148
Focus Min $9153
Gindalbie Metals $8034
Horizon Oil $9130
Mincor Res NL $8263
OneSteel $7700
QBE Insurance Grp $9431
SevenWest Media $10,090
Westfield Grp stp $9951
$88,098
8th Graeme Cullen Real Estate Agent
Blina Min NL $4286
Broken Hill Prospect $9091
Ceramic Fuel Cells $8750
Consolidated Tin Min $9231
Lynas Corp $9237
Mutiny Gold $9875
OBJ $8636
Phosphagenics $11,471
Prima BioMed $8378
Tissue Therapies $7736
$86,691
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Who won the final shares race and which stocks did they hold?
David Potts (Pottsy) won the final shares race. His portfolio listed in the article included holdings such as Anglo Aust, Carpentaria Exp, Cooper Energy, Crossland Uranium, Flinders Mines, Gold Anomaly, Legend Min, Peninsula Energy, Poseidon Nickel and Tap Oil.
How did the market perform in the final week and over the past month?
The article reports the market slipped 2.8% in the final week and finished 3.3% down over the four-week period.
Who finished on the podium in the shares race and what happened to them?
Pottsy (David Potts) finished first, astrologer Doreen Daze finished strongly in second, and Philip Baker (AFR associate editor) took third place and the bronze medal.
Which contestant had the worst weekly result and why should investors notice it?
Investor John Schneider had the weakest weekly result, falling about 8% after five of his stocks dropped roughly a fifth. It’s a reminder that individual holdings can move sharply in a short time.
Who was the best performer for the week and which portfolios showed big swings?
Real estate agent Graeme Cullen was the best performer for the week. Several contestants experienced large swings — for example, Boz McDonald had a couple of stocks that lost about a third of their value, while other racers saw individual holdings fall by around 20%.
Which notable companies appeared across contestants’ portfolios in the article?
Many familiar names were listed across contestants’ portfolios, including Telstra Corp, Virgin Blue Holdings, ANZ Banking Group, BHP Billiton, Origin Energy, QBE Insurance Group, Seek, REA Group, Cochlear and Centro Properties.
What practical takeaways for everyday investors does the shares race story illustrate?
The article highlights market volatility and how quickly individual stocks can swing—some holdings fell a third or about 20% in a week. For everyday investors that underscores the value of diversification, monitoring positions regularly and being prepared for short-term ups and downs.
Will the shares race continue and when can readers expect more coverage?
Yes — the article signs off saying the series will return. It notes, “We’re back in 2012 with more shares race action,” signalling more coverage and contests to come.
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