It's been an unpredictable and challenging year in financial markets. One might have expected that the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions it brought would result in serious losses.
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That did happen but only quite briefly. Recovery and growth began quickly.
Investment returns for the year show losses in some areas but good results in others.
The All Ordinaries Index of Australian shares began 2020 at 6800 and was at 6920 last Friday.
In addition, dividends have been paid, though sometimes at lower rates. Lonsec Research publishes extensive return data.
For the 12 months to November 30 the All Ords lost 0.1 per cent.
The largest fifty companies lost 4.9 per cent while small companies gained 6.0 per cent.
Energy companies lost 28 per cent while mining companies made 11.3 per cent and the IT sector 34.9 per cent.
Property trusts traded on the share market lost 8.6 per cent due to tenant rent holidays, fear that working from home will reduce demand for office space in future and fear that increased online shopping will cut shopping centre traffic.
Unlisted, direct commercial property did better with Lonsec's reported returns from funds at 6.1 per cent profit.
Overseas share markets have also been quite mixed but on average have done better than Australian shares.The MSCI World ex-Australia index returned 6.3 per cent.
The failure to achieve a Brexit agreement adversely affected British shares with the London market losing 14.7 per cent while German shares made 0.4 per cent.
Japanese shares earned 13.5 per cent, and Chinese shares made 29.6 per cent, benefitting from an early return to normal business.
US shares proved irrepressible with the S&P 500 returning 15.3 per cent.
Travel and leisure shares slumped while stay-at-home stocks like Amazon and Netflix flourished.
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