Quickstep for man, giant leap for Pottsy

WITH the European debt crisis solved (yes, solved!), the so-called "experts" prognosticating GFC II must be feeling pretty silly right now. You know the ones, those types who would rather die of thirst than accept a glass is half-full instead of half-empty.

By InvestSMART · 30 Oct 2011

By InvestSMART ·
30 Oct 2011

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Locally, so unconstrained was the joy at the ASX that everybody there decamped to the pub to enjoy a well-deserved liquid lunch for a handful of hours.

Bless 'em. Let's just hope those fellows at Chi-X are as merry a bunch.

Pottsy certainly knows how to party and he leads the conga line of capitalists at the end of week one, showing off some fancy footwork with a 48 per cent return from aerospace materials manufacturer Quickstep.

Next in line is resident chart whisperer Richard Pritchard, who won big with respiratory medicine developer Pharmaxis.

It was looking like an old-school shares race trifecta but busting into the top three is reader Garry Scott, after a trio of his stocks - Fortescue, JB Hi-Fi and Rio Tinto - all jumped more than 10 per cent. But Garry must be able to hear the flapping of astrologer Doreen Daze's cosmic robes, so close is she behind.

The best of the rest is year 7 student Rafael Ungar, who beat the market to stay within reach of the top three. So sensible, so prudent is this young chap, he invested his shares race play money in a dentistry business, 1300 Smiles. The rewards may not be apparent yet but we're sure he'll have a cavity-free portfolio by the end of the four weeks.

Nurse Denise Borthwick and retired valuer Jim Gracie are neck-and-neck behind Rafael, while Dartboard picked three companies that actually lost money. Sheesh.

Patrick Commins

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What happened to Quickstep shares in the article and why is Quickstep mentioned?

The article highlights Quickstep, an aerospace materials manufacturer, as a standout performer — delivering a 48% return that helped contributor “Pottsy” lead the shares race. The article notes the jump but does not provide specific details on the drivers behind the move.

Who were the top winners in the shares race described in the story?

The article names Pottsy as the week’s leader (boosted by Quickstep), chart commentator Richard Pritchard who won with Pharmaxis, and reader Garry Scott whose trio of stocks (Fortescue, JB Hi‑Fi and Rio Tinto) each jumped more than 10%. It also mentions Rafael Ungar staying close behind and other participants such as Denise Borthwick, Jim Gracie and Dartboard.

How did Pharmaxis perform and what does the article say about the company?

Pharmaxis is described in the article as a respiratory medicine developer, and it’s cited as a big winner for commentator Richard Pritchard. The piece celebrates the stock’s strong performance but does not quantify the exact return.

Which ASX stocks jumped more than 10% according to the article?

Reader Garry Scott’s picks — Fortescue, JB Hi‑Fi and Rio Tinto — are reported in the article as having each jumped more than 10%, contributing to his strong showing in the shares race.

Why is 1300 Smiles mentioned and what kind of business is it?

1300 Smiles is mentioned as the dentistry business that year‑7 student Rafael Ungar invested in for the shares race. The article playfully suggests his portfolio may be 'cavity‑free' by the end of the contest.

What does the article say about market sentiment and the European debt crisis?

The article adopts a tongue‑in‑cheek, upbeat tone — even claiming the European debt crisis is “solved (yes, solved!)” — and describes buoyant local market sentiment on the ASX, with investors celebrating and a generally merry mood at the close of the week.

Who are the commentators and participants mentioned in the article’s shares race coverage?

Names mentioned include Pottsy (a top performer), Richard Pritchard (the chart whisperer), reader Garry Scott, Rafael Ungar (a year‑7 student investor), Doreen Daze (comic astrologer reference), Denise Borthwick, retired valuer Jim Gracie, and Dartboard. The article is signed by Patrick Commins.

What should everyday investors take away from this lighthearted shares race coverage?

The article is a colourful, lighthearted roundup of short‑term winners and losers on the ASX — showing how quickly fortunes can change and how different approaches produced varied results. For everyday investors the implied takeaway is to keep perspective on short‑term moves and recognise this coverage is more a snapshot of a contest than in‑depth investment analysis.