In a year of universal suffering for all share market investors the Speculator scored one tiny saving grace in 2008 . . . our portfolio loss since starting on Money magazine’s weekly internet column in early April amounted to – 30.4% at year’s end. By contrast, the all-ordinaries share price index over the same period dropped – 32%.

Australian ASX200 listed companies share codes

Australian ASX200 listed companies share codes

The year 2008 has the highly dubious distinction of shaping up as the worst calendar year recorded for Australian shares, with records going back to 1876.

For 35 years I wrote the Speculator column in The Bulletin magazine and for 31 of those 35 years the column outperformed the All-ordinaries share price index, usually by a considerable margin and often spectacularly so.